Osiecki’s secret? Finding and chiseling NHL-caliber defensemen
November 13, 2018 | Men's Hockey, Andy Baggot
Badgers’ current blue line reminds many of notable 2010 class
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — The construction project had only just begun, but Mark Osiecki knew right away that he was working with some high-grade materials.
This was the fall of 2009 and Osiecki, the associate head coach and chief recruiter for the Wisconsin men's hockey team, had just gotten an on-ice look at his top six defensemen.
It was a depth chart to behold, one that helped the Badgers reach the NCAA championship game in 2010.
Half were chosen in the opening round of the NHL draft: juniors Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith and sophomore Jake Gardiner.
Two others were selected in the second round: junior Cody Goloubef and freshman Justin Schultz.
Another, freshman John Ramage, was drafted in the fourth round.
Nearly a decade later, the moment still makes Osiecki smile.
"You knew you had ingredients that were absolutely incredible," he said.
No one knew for sure at the time, but all six made it to the NHL. Four have played in excess of 350 career games (Gardiner, McDonagh, Schultz and Smith). Two were selected to the all-rookie team (Gardiner and Schultz). One is a two-time all-star (McDonagh). One owns a pair of Stanley Cup rings (Schultz).
All but one appeared in at least 125 games in the NHL and four — Gardiner, McDonagh, Schultz and Smith — continue to be lineup regulars with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers, respectively.
"You look at where the guys were drafted and think that was pretty crazy," Gardiner said.
"That's a testament to Oz and his recruiting," Smith said. "I felt I was going to learn from one of the best and I trusted what he was doing. Obviously the other guys felt the same way."
Schultz and Smith wound up as first-team All-Americans and Gardiner was a second-team choice. Ramage was a two-time captain — he was the only one of the six to play all four seasons with the Badgers before turning pro — while Gardiner and McDonagh were one-time assistants.
"The best thing that happened with any of those kids that came in, they were all receptive to coaching," Osiecki said.
Three former #Badgers defensemen are among the NHL's top 20 rear guards in scoring so far this year. A fourth is at No. 31. @rsuter20 Ryan McDonagh @Jgardiner272 @McCabe19 Keep up the good work guys. #TwoRyansTwoJakes #Badgers || #BadgersintheBigs
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 6, 2018
The history of that unit is worth revisiting now because Osiecki believes he has a similar collection of talent on hand.
The resumes of the current six may be understated compared to the group in 2009-10 — one first-round selection among the five NHL picks as well as an undrafted free agent — but Osiecki doesn't hesitate to talk about their shared potential.
He said the present-day group — senior Peter Tischke, sophomores Josh Ess, Tyler Inamoto and Wyatt Kalynuk, and freshmen Ty Emberson and K'Andre Miller — practices with a purpose every day and that's to measure up to their predecessors from the 2009-10 season.
"That's the bar," Osiecki said. "That's the end sight that we want to have for this group.
"They embrace being pushed to a higher level, higher standard. They all have the goal they want to get to."
Miller is a first-round NHL pick of the New York Rangers; Emberson a third-round selection of Arizona; Inamoto a fifth-round choice of Florida; Kalynuk a seventh-rounder pick of Philadelphia; and Ess a seventh-round selection of Chicago.
Tischke wasn't drafted, but Osiecki and Wisconsin coach Tony Granato have raved about his pro-worthy game since Granato took over the program in 2016.
All six are strong skaters with good instincts and excellent size. Miller measures 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds at one end with Ess (5-11, 188) at the other.
Like Gardiner and McDonagh, Ess came straight to Madison from the Minnesota high school level (Lakeville South) and fit right in.
Like Goloubef, Schultz and Smith, Kalynuk is Canadian (Virden, Manitoba) with smooth offensive instincts that remind some of Schultz and his goal-scoring touch (40 career conversions).
Like Ramage, Emberson, Inamoto and Miller were reared in the prestigious U.S. National Team Developmental Program in Plymouth, Michigan, and bring a variety of skills to the mix.
And, like Ramage, Tischke is known for his rambunctious, hard-hitting style.
"They can definitely be a factor day in and day out," Osiecki said of his current unit. "I think they make our forwards better. I think they bring a high-level element to the game."
Osiecki was a standout assistant captain and defenseman for the Badgers, a heart-and-soul piece to the NCAA championship squad in 1990. He played 93 games in the NHL before turning his sights on a coaching career that's included the junior, college, professional and international levels. He's in his second go-round at his alma mater having spent 2004 to '10 with Mike Eaves.
During his first stint at Wisconsin, Osiecki oversaw the recruitment of 22 players — including 10 defensemen — who went onto play in the NHL.
Osiecki said a prospect's skill level is a top priority in his evaluation followed closely by his "sense of the game, his feel for the game" and his compete level.
In the case of defensemen, Osiecki said "it's what's the percentage of the time they're making the right decision with the puck and where does it end up."
Smith, from Mimico, Ontario, had all the ingredients — size, speed, skating ability — but needed to mature before emerging as a national defensive player of the year in 2010.
"I could skate and I could shoot, but I didn't know how to put it all together," he said.
Enter Osiecki, who schools his charges on the proper way to pivot in transition, box out around the net, identify shooting lanes, block shots and have an active, effective stick.
"He's so smart about being in the right position," Gardiner said.
"He taught us the NHL-style of playing defense," Smith said of Osiecki. "He made us not just college-ready, but NHL-ready.
"Here in the NHL everybody's good, so you have to do the little things just a little bit better."
Gardiner, from Minnetonka, Minnesota, said Osiecki has a personable recruiting presence that sets the stage for his coaching style.
"He's good about engaging and making you feel wanted," Gardiner said. "Even before I got there I was excited to work with Oz."
Of course, there were growing pains.
"I was kind of a know-it-all," Gardiner said, noting that he initially made excuses for his poor play, something Osiecki dismissed.
"It was humbling," Gardiner said. "It was stuff I needed to hear to become a more well-rounded defenseman."
Smith said Osiecki's coaching is hard, but fair.
"He knew what you were capable of," Smith said. "If you weren't playing up to that level, he'd pull you off to the side and be like, 'Hey, I need you to be this kind of player.'"
Smith said Osiecki's reputation as a defenseman whisperer is no secret in the NHL. Smith described a recent trip to the Rangers' training room where he came upon teammates Kevin Shattenkirk, who attended Boston University, and winger Chris Kreider, who played for Boston College, "talking about Osiecki and how great he's been for guys from Wisconsin."
Smith said one of the best decisions of his life was to bypass the Major Junior option and play for Osiecki.
"He just made us better players," Smith said.
That approach remains intact, according to Kalynuk, who originally planned on attending Western Michigan before Granato and Co. came on board in Madison.
Kalnyuk, who's on pace to reach the top-five seasons for Badgers defenseman in goals, said Osiecki's teaching style is defined by little details and oversized passion.
"The biggest thing with Oz is he loves it," Kalynuk said. "Sometimes you'll get a coach that teaches stuff, but their love for getting results isn't there. For Oz, that's why he's so good at it because he loves it so much."
Miller, the national rookie of the month for October, emerged from a post-practice video session with Osiecki to rave about Osiecki's style.
"It's definitely one of the reasons I wanted to come to this school, to have a coach like him," Miller said. "It made my decision very easy. Learning from him has been special."
Neither Kalynuk or Miller shy away from comparisons to 2010.
"As a group we don't talk about it, but if you look at the guys that we have — the skill, the way everyone skates, the way everyone can make plays — I think for sure we can do what they did," Kalynuk said.
"The ceiling is so high for all of our D. I think everyone can play in the NHL for sure."
That confidence will get a test Friday and Saturday when the Badgers make their first Big Ten Conference road series of the season at sixth-ranked Ohio State.
"You look around college hockey I'd argue with anybody that our (defensive) corps might be one of the best ones," Kalynuk said.
"Our defensive corps is one of the best," Miller said. "I think we've done a great job of eliminating other teams' chances and offensive abilities."
Gardiner offered his successors on the Wisconsin blue line some advice regarding Osiecki.
"Just soak it in every day," Gardiner said. "He's a really smart guy. He's been doing it a long time. Listen to what he has to say and you can't go wrong."
He's off to a great start to his sophomore year, so we 'Badgered' @Wkalynuk17 for this week's issue of Varsity. Take a look.
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 7, 2018
