Wisconsin men's hockey's long-sought change for Kohl Center rink is about to happen
TODD D. MILEWSKI
Updated
TODD D. MILEWSKI
Craig Flor, Minnesota's director of ice arenas, describes the project that dropped the floor at 3M Arena at Mariucci by 16 inches and narrowed the rink from 100 feet wide to 89. That allowed for two new rows along the sides and premium seating.
The history behind the desire to reduce the width of the ice rink at the Kohl Center is so lengthy that the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team is on its third coach to support the idea.
The addition of two rows at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis allowed for Minnesota to add 17 cushioned lounge chairs as premium seating near the glass.
Meet the 13 former Wisconsin players on 2023-24 NHL opening day rosters
Cole Caufield, Montreal
Adam Hunger, Associated Press
Caufield, who won the Hobey Baker Award in 2020-21, his last of two seasons with the Badgers, is in his third full season in the NHL and with Montreal. The forward is starting an eight-year, $62.8 million contract.
Ty Emberson, San Jose
Charles Krupa, Associated Press
Emberson was claimed on waivers by the Sharks from the New York Rangers on Sept. 30 and made an NHL opening-day roster for the first time. The defenseman played for the Badgers from 2018 to 2021 and is on a one-year contract that pays $775,000 at the NHL level and $85,000 in the American Hockey League.
Frederic, a forward who played for the Badgers from 2016 to 2018, is starting his sixth pro season. He's starting a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Bruins.
Holloway played 51 games with the Oilers last season but didn't appear in the playoffs. The forward who played for the Badgers from 2019 to 2021 is entering the final season of his entry-level contract, which pays him $925,000 in the NHL and $80,000 in the AHL.
Luke Kunin, San Jose
Tony Avelar, Associated Press
Kunin, who played forward at Wisconsin from 2015 to 2017, was limited to 31 games for the Sharks last season because of a torn ACL. He's in the second year of a two-year, $5.5 million contract with San Jose.
McCabe is starting his first full season in Toronto after he was traded from Chicago on Feb. 27, 2023. The defenseman who played at Wisconsin from 2011 to 2014 is in the third year of a four-year, $16 million contract.
Ryan McDonagh, Nashville
George Walker IV, Associated Press
McDonagh, a Badgers defenseman from 2007 to 2010, is starting his second season with the Predators after a trade from Tampa Bay. He's in the fifth year of a seven-year, $47.25 million deal.
Miller signed a two-year, $7.744 million contract with the Rangers in July after his entry-level deal expired. He played defense for Wisconsin from 2018 to 2020 and is entering his fourth pro season.
Joe Pavelski, Dallas
Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press
Pavelski, 39, avoided free agency last season when he signed a one-year extension with the Stars that has a $3.5 million cap hit. He can earn a $1 million bonus for playing in 10 games and another $1 million for reaching 20 games. The forward played for the Badgers from 2004 to 2006.
Schultz is starting the final season of a two-year, $6 million contract with the Kraken. The defenseman who played at Wisconsin from 2009 to 2012 is entering his 12th pro season.
Smith is in the second and final year of a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the Devils, his fourth NHL team since joining the league in 2011-12. The defenseman played for the Badgers from 2007 to 2010.
Smith, a Madison native who played forward for the Badgers from 2009 to 2011, signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Stars in July. That gave Dallas three former Badgers players, all of whom are from Wisconsin; Joe Pavelski (Plover) and Ryan Suter (Madison) are the others.
Suter is starting his 20th pro season and 19th in the NHL after he played defense for the Badgers in the 2003-04 season. He's in the third year of a four-year, $14.6 million deal with the Stars.
The addition of two rows at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis allowed for Minnesota to add 17 cushioned lounge chairs as premium seating near the glass.
