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Wisconsin Badgers Hockey: The All-Time team

By Mike Wendlandt

ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 21: The helmets for the Wisconsin Badgers sit on the bench before the semifinal game of the Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Championship between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on March 21, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 21: The helmets for the Wisconsin Badgers sit on the bench before the semifinal game of the Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Championship between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Penn State Nittany Lions on March 21, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Badgers
Joe Pavelski of Wisconsin looks to pass versus Maine during 3rd-period action in the semi-finals of the NCAA frozen four at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 6, 2006. Wisconsin won 5-2 to advance to the championship. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /

Every great team has a great first forward line, and this one is incredible. With a pure goal scorer on the left wing, an elite two way forward on the right, and the GOAT of Badgers hockey in the middle, this line was a no-brainer.

LW Dany Heatley

Heatley, despite all the controversy in his career, was an elite winger in his prime, both at Wisconsin and in the NHL. After a stellar two-year career at Wisconsin that saw him score 52 goals in 77 games, he would win the Calder Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2001-2002. After a trade to Ottawa in 2005, he would score 50 goals twice, and 180 goals in four seasons with the Senators. After a stellar season in San Jose in 2009, injuries and Father Time would sap his effectiveness, but at his best, Heatley was one of the very best goal scorers in the world. As the top sniper in Wisconsin history, he was a lock for the first line left wing.
NHL Stats: 372 Goals, 419 Assists, 791 Points in 869 Games.
Badgers Stats: 52 Goals, 61 Assists, 113 Points in 77 Games (1999-2001)
 1st Team All-American (2001), 2nd Team All-American (2000)
 2002 Calder Trophy, Member of Team Canada in 2006, 2010 in Olympics

RW Joe Pavelski

On the right side, Joe Pavelski, is undoubtedly the best current Badger in the NHL. As the captain of the San Jose Sharks, he has been a model of consistency over his career, scoring at least 50 points in nine straight (non-lockout) seasons, and is on pace again in 2018-19. A two-way extraordinaire, Pavelski has gotten votes for the Selke Award (best defensive forward) in 11 straight seasons and scored 41 goals in 2013-14. He has been the captain in San Jose since 2015, leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016.

Pavelski also has the reputation of being one of the best in the world at deflecting pucks toward the net to get goals. He also has played significant minutes at center and could move to the middle here as well if needed. A true “Swiss Army Knife” among hockey players, he gets the nod as the top right wing. It also helps to be a Wisconsin native (Pavelski is from Plover, WI and played high school hockey at Stevens Point)
NHL Stats: 355 Goals, 406 Assists, 761 Points in 963 Games (and Counting)
 Badgers Stats: 39 Goals, 62 Assists, 101 Points in 101 Games (2004-2006)
 2nd Team All-American (2006), Member of Team USA in 2010, 2014 Olympics

C Mark Johnson (C)

In the middle, we get to the greatest Badger of them all. Mark Johnson was nicknamed “Magic” during his time in Madison, and for good reason. Even forty years after he left the school, he still is the leading goal scorer and second all-time point scorer in school history. As a playmaker, he was unmatched, and it was shown at its highest profile in the 1980 Olympics. You may have heard of that team, the “Miracle on Ice.” Johnson was the MVP of that team and the first line center. He will be forever known for his two goals in that legendary game against the Soviet Union, including the miracle goal with one second left in the first period.

Following the Olympics, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL but didn’t really hit his stride until 1982, when he was traded to Hartford and had five straight 50 point seasons, including 87 in 1983-84. His professional career wasn’t as great as some players on this team, but his work at the school, in the Olympics, and as a very good NHL player cement him as the first line center and Captain of this All-Time Badger team.
NHL Stats: 203 Goals, 305 Assists, 508 Points in 669 Games
Badgers Stats: 125 Goals, 131 Assists, 256 Points in 125 Games (1976-1979)
2-Time 1st Team All-American, 1980 Olympic Gold Medal, 1977 National Championship
Coach: UW-Badgers Women’s Hockey (4 National Championships in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2019)
#10 Jersey Retired by University of Wisconsin (1st Badger Ever)

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