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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
DETROIT – APRIL 10: Jimmy Hayes #10 of the Boston College Eagles takes the puck as Craig Smith #15 of the Wisconsin Badgers defends during the championship game of the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four on April 10, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Boston College defeated Wisconsin 5-0 to win the national title. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Much like the second line, a good third line has to be responsible at both ends, controlling the puck and staying out of the box. A good middle six forward corps can make or break a team, and this one helps make it. All three guys are solid offensive players, but their biggest impact would be on the penalty kill.

LW Steven Reinprecht

On the left side, we get Steven Reinprecht, the All-American who led the NCAA in scoring in 2000 and played 11 years in the NHL, most notably with the Colorado Avalanche, winning the Stanley Cup in 2001. Despite his gaudy college stats, he never could carve out a niche as a scorer in the NHL, and stayed consistently in that 35-45 point range in his career, with a career-high of 52 in 2005-2006, primarily as a center. Where he was best was at staying on the ice, never having more than 32 penalty minutes in a season.
NHL Stats: 140 Goals, 242 Assists, 382 Points in 663 Games
Badger Stats: 72 Goals, 90 Assists, 162 Points in 154 Games (1996-2000)
1st Team All-American (2000), Led Nation in Scoring in 2000 (66 Points)

RW Craig Smith

On the right side, we get Kyle Turris’ teammate in Nashville, Craig Smith. A Madison native, Smith played two years for the Badgers, showcasing his two-way abilities before heading to the NHL. Smith immediately made an impact in the NHL, bypassing the minor leagues and scoring a goal in his first game. He has since carved out a niche as the second line right wing for the Predators and getting ample time on special teams as well. Smith has scored 20 goals five times in his 8 seasons, and 50 points twice.
NHL Stats: 144 Goals, 155 Assists, 299 Points in 592 Games (And Counting)
Badger Stats: 27 Goals, 49 Assists, 76 Points in 82 Games (2009-2011)

C Derek Stepan

In the middle, we get another dependable, two-way center in Derek Stepan, currently playing for the Arizona Coyotes. He’s most well-known for his time with the New York Rangers, including scoring the series-winning goal against the Washington Capitals in the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals. He is also known as being the fourth player in NHL history to score a hat trick in his NHL debut. As with his linemates on this team, consistency is key, as Stepan scored at least 44 points in each of his first 8 seasons, and 50 points in six of them. He also has scored 11 shorthanded goals in his career.
NHL Stats: 157 Goals, 294 Assists, 451 Points in 669 Games (And Counting)
Badger Stats: 21 Goals, 66 Assists, 87 Points in 81 Games (2008-2010)
2011 NHL All-Star

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