The first 25 seasons of the 2000s have been almost equally as painful as pleasant for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team.
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Robbie Earl led the Badgers in goals in his final two seasons.
Joe Pavelski led the 2006 NCAA championship team in points.
Cole Caufield reached 30 goals in his second and final season with the Badgers.
Brendan Smith set a Badgers record for defensemen with five assists against RIT in the 2010 Frozen Four.
Justin Schultz is one of four Badgers players ever to be named a first-team All-American twice.
Michael Mersch had two 20-goal seasons with the Badgers.
Blake Geoffrion was the first Badgers player to win the Hobey Baker Award.
Mark Zengerle scored the overtime goal that won the inaugural Big Ten Tournament in 2014.
Jake McCabe developed into a first-team All-American by his third season with the Badgers.
Jamie McBain is the only Badgers defenseman ever named a conference player of the year.
Brian Elliott leads all Badgers goalies in save percentage, goals-against average and shutouts.
Who would you pick No. 1?
Meet 12 former Wisconsin men's hockey players on 2024-25 NHL opening night rosters
Cole Caufield, Montreal
Cole Caufield, who played for the Badgers from 2019 to 2021 and won the Hobey Baker Award as a sophomore, is entering his fourth full pro season with the Montreal Canadiens.
Ty Emberson, Edmonton
Ty Emberson, who played for the Badgers from 2018 to 2021, was traded from San Jose to Edmonton in August 2024.
Trent Frederic, Boston
Trent Frederic, a Badgers forward from 2016 to 2018, is starting his seventh full pro season and his entire NHL career has been with Boston.
Dylan Holloway, St. Louis
Dylan Holloway, who played for the Badgers from 2019 to 2021, signed an offer sheet with St. Louis in the 2024 offseason after three years with Edmonton, which declined to match the terms.
Luke Kunin, San Jose
Former Badgers captain Luke Kunin, who played at Wisconsin from 2015 to 2017, is entering his third season with San Jose. He also has played for Minnesota and Nashville.
Jake McCabe, Toronto
Jake McCabe, a Wisconsin defenseman from 2011 to 2014, is starting his 11th full pro season and his second full season in Toronto after a midseason trade from Chicago in 2023.
Ryan McDonagh, Tampa Bay
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who played at Wisconsin from 2007 to 2010, is starting his second stint with Tampa Bay after two seasons in Nashville.
K'Andre Miller, New York Rangers
K'Andre Miller, a Wisconsin defenseman from 2018 to 2020, is starting his fifth season with the New York Rangers.
Brendan Smith, Dallas
Brendan Smith, a Wisconsin defenseman from 2007 to 2010, joined his fifth NHL team when he signed with Dallas in the 2024 offseason.
Craig Smith, Chicago
Craig Smith, a Badgers forward from 2009 to 2011, signed a one-year contract with Chicago in the 2024 offseason after playing last season with Dallas.
Ryan Suter, St. Louis
Ryan Suter, a Wisconsin defenseman in the 2003-04 season, signed with St. Louis after Dallas bought out his contract. He's starting his 20th NHL season.
Alex Turcotte, Los Angeles
Alex Turcotte, a Badgers forward in the 2019-20 season, has played 32 NHL games over the previous three seasons, all of them with Los Angeles.
Brian Elliott
Mark Zengerle
Brendan Smith
Justin Schultz
Joe Pavelski
Michael Mersch
Jake McCabe
Jamie McBain
Blake Geoffrion
Robbie Earl
Cole Caufield
