Baggot: Welcoming Zimmer a year early paying off for Badgers
January 06, 2017 | Men's Hockey, Andy Baggot
Freshman winger Max Zimmer’s potential growing every game at Wisconsin
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Not long after Tony Granato took over as Wisconsin men's hockey coach 10 months ago, he had a series of major personnel decisions to make regarding the makeup of his first roster.
One in particular involved Max Zimmer, a 19-year-old winger out of Wayzata, Minnesota.
Zimmer had committed to play for the Badgers, but the plan of former UW coach Mike Eaves was to have him experience another season with Chicago of the U.S. Hockey League before coming to college in 2017-18.
When Eaves was dismissed and Granato took over in March, Granato had similar instincts.
Having never seen Zimmer play, Granato surmised that another season of juniors would benefit him because he had the makings of a standout in the Tier I junior league and that could translate into a more confident prospect once he arrives.
"What's the hurry?" Granato wondered aloud.
UW associate head coach Don Granato had a totally different take and eventually convinced his older brother that it would be better to sign Zimmer to a National Letter of Intent starting this season.
"No way should we send him back," Don told Tony. "He's an elite, skilled player that will step on the ice in college and fit in. You'll never know he's a freshman."
Don Granato had not only seen Zimmer play, he thought very highly of his abilities, the kind that prompted Carolina to select Zimmer, listed at 6-foot and 190 pounds, in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft last summer.
Prior to returning to his alma mater to work with his brother and fellow associate head coach Mark Osiecki, Don Granato coached for five years at the prestigious U.S. National Team Developmental Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The NTDP has two squads, under-18 and under-17, that play against USHL clubs during the regular season. Zimmer stood out to Don Granato when his under-17 team played the Steel last season.
Granato had directed one of the most talent-laden outfits in NTDP history — 10 NHL first-round picks and three second-round selections — and felt Zimmer would have fit right in with them.
That 1997-born group included the first overall pick of the NHL draft in 2016 (Auston Matthews) and the core of the current American squad that won the gold medal in the World Junior Championships.
Team USA was captained by Luke Kunin, a sophomore center and captain for the Badgers who was a first-round pick of Minnesota in '16.
Fun game tonight at #WJC2017. Congrats to @usahockey & @lukekunin9 on the gold. Great game by @HockeyCanada.
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 5, 2017
"He could easily have played on that (NTDP) team," Don Granato said of Zimmer. "No question. He would have fit in great."
Zimmer accounted for 16 goals and 37 points in 55 games for Chicago last season. Granato used the word "dynamic" to describe his game, then ticked off a series of highlights.
"High skill. Ability to possess the puck. Evasive. Can make a play under pressure. Put defensemen on their heels. Backed defensemen up.
"He does it every day in practice," Granato continued. "His experience level right now, he's not so sure how good he is.
"We know how good he is. He doesn't yet know how good he is."
The stat sheet seems to bear that out. Zimmer has a modest five points (2 goals, 3 assists) with 37 shots and is a minus-7 in 16 games heading into a Big Ten Conference series with Michigan State on Friday night and Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin (7-6-1 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten) is back in action after a 26-day holiday break — its longest in five decades — looking to create some second-half momentum against the Spartans (4-11-1, 0-2).
"I think he's a player who, any second, is going to bust out and go from a good college player in terms of potential to an elite player," Tony Granato said of Zimmer. "He's as close as anybody I've ever seen to breaking out and never looking back."
What's been missing?
"I think the only thing from his standpoint is that he hasn't had a rhythm offensively to have the confidence to know that he can score every game," Tony Granato said.
Zimmer spent the last six games of the first half skating left wing on a line with sophomore center Seamus Malone and senior right winger Grant Besse. During that time the threesome amassed 8-8-16.
"That might be a guy who, all of a sudden, you look at a 10-game (stretch) and he has 12 goals. That's how good he is," Tony Granato said of Zimmer.
"The first 16 games he's been a really, really good player, but he can be an elite player."
The unofficial second half of the season starts Friday. Five home series at Kohl Center. Make sure to join us -- http://go.wisc.edu/MHKYTickets
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 3, 2017
Zimmer had a cautious reply to the praise.
"I think the potential's there, but there's work to be done," he said.
Every newcomer to the college game has some adjustments to make and Zimmer is no different.
"Just being more patient with the puck and playing with more confidence," he said. "The speed's a little bit faster here and you're playing with guys who are a lot bigger and stronger and faster."
Zimmer grew up with current UW sophomore winger Matthew Freytag, playing on a line together at Wayzata High School. Freytag said Zimmer's strength is his speed and playmaking ability.
"You give him the puck and you just have to get open," Freytag said.
Tony Granato, a former NHL player, head coach and assistant coach, lauded Zimmer for his maturity and practice habits.
"He's been an easy kid to help along the way because he does so many things right," Granato said. "He's a really good pro-type of a player."
What did Zimmer think when Don Granato called and broached the idea of coming to UW this season instead of waiting another year?
"It was a big honor first of all to have guys like that want me to come in and play," he said. "I think there was definitely a little bit of nerves when I got the call, but I think there was a lot of excitement.
"My goal was to come in and be an impact player as soon as possible. They saw from what I did last year that I could do that."
Tony Granato was sold on Zimmer as soon as he saw him stand out in summer skating drills.
"I was nervous," Tony said. "I'd never seen him play. I'm thinking, 'Why not let him be an all-star in the USHL before he came?'
"Donny said it immediately. He's college ready. Get him here as quick as we can."
That's what happened.
Some brotherly gratitude followed.
"I said to Donny, 'Thank you for making that recommendation,'" Tony said with a grin.
