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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 08: Ryan McDonagh #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates a goal with teammate Scott Gudmandson #1 in the first period against the RIT Tigers on April 8, 2010 during the semifinals of the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

LD Ryan McDonagh

With the first two pairs of defensemen bringing a little bit of everything to the ice, the third pairing usually is more defensively oriented and specializes in their own end and on the penalty kill, and very few defensemen are as good as preventing goals as Ryan McDonagh.

A responsible, efficient defender, McDonagh was the anchor of some very good New York Ranger teams over the past decade, including serving as the team’s captain from 2014 until his trade to Tampa Bay in 2018. Over his career, McDonagh hasn’t put up big point totals, topping out at 46 this past season on the Lightning, but his defensive prowess has been a vital part of each team he’s been on. Still just 29, he’s got plenty of time left to play and could move up this depth chart shortly.

NHL Stats: 62 Goals, 225 Assists, 287 Points in 612 Games (And Counting)
Badger Stats: 14 Goals, 32 Assists, 46 Points in 119 Games (2007-2010)
2014 Winter Olympian (United States), 2-Time All-Star

RD Brian Engblom

Lining up opposite McDonagh is the oldest Badger on this roster in Brian Engblom. Another resident of the blue line who takes the “defense” part of defenseman literally, the All-American was an important part of one of the greatest stretches for a team in modern history, winning three consecutive Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens from 1977-1979.

His fundamental defensive play and ability to protect his own end of the ice showed in his absurd plus-minus stats, including a league-leading +63 in 1980, and an even greater +78 (16th All-Time) in 1981. For reference, the leader in plus-minus this past NHL season was Mark Giordano with a +39 rating. He didn’t have the same success after leaving Montreal, but his years of stellar defensive play is more than deserving of a role on this team.

NHL Stats: 29 Goals, 177 Assists, 206 Points in 659 Games
Badgers Stats: 23 Goals, 44 Assists, 67 Points in 74 Games (1973-75)
3 Stanley Cups (1977, 78, 79), 1st Team All-American (1975)

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