Mike Hastings took his time going through a mental list of things that he thinks NCAA men's hockey teams need to be successful.
There was no question that quality goaltending had to be on there, and the University of Wisconsin men's hockey coach mentioned it first.
Having the kind of team defense that operates as a consistent unit was a must-have for a Hastings-coached team.
And developing skilled centers who can be as strong in the defensive zone as they are on the attack was a key, listed third as Hastings rolled through the items but probably equally as important as the first two.
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A step back to observe those three elements brings up a point about how this season's Badgers team was constructed in today's era of college athletics: The transfer portal has provided a lot of the answers.
It brought Wisconsin a Hobey Baker Award finalist goalie, its leading goal-scorer and its most prolific power play striker. Its top two centers came from Minnesota State last offseason along with Hastings and associate head coach Todd Knott.
Transfers don't always work out but the group that's with the Badgers this season has made a big impact as the team returns to the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in 10 seasons.
"I feel like everybody was ready for a fresh change here," said Christian Fitzgerald, one of the Minnesota State transfers and the second-line center. "Everybody was excited about new opportunities and possibilities of what the program had been at and (getting) back into their winning ways. So I think the excitement and buy-in from that has led into our success throughout the season."
Goalie Kyle McClellan joined Wisconsin in 2022 after two seasons at Mercyhurst. Playing with a strong team defensive structure in front of him and an offseason of personal development helped him become the national leader in save percentage and the only goalie among 10 Hobey finalists.
Leading goal-scorer Carson Bantle also was a portal addition before Hastings' arrival. The forward from Onalaska joined the team in 2021 after a year at Michigan Tech.
Simon Tassy followed Hastings from Minnesota State last offseason and is No. 3 on the team in points and No. 1 in power-play goals.
David Silye immediately moved to the top of the Badgers' depth chart at center when he joined Tassy and Fitzgerald in transferring from Minnesota State. Hastings and Knott, who also plucked Silye out of the transfer portal from Clarkson in 2021 with the Mavericks, look for strong character and a heavy drive in players, Silye said.
"It's beyond skill," he said. "It's people outside of the rink. I think when you look at all the transfers that we've had, even the guys that are here right now that we've held onto, it's about the culture that we have in the room. You bring in the right guys that buy into that and also have some skill on the ice and get it done there, it's a good recipe for success."
Hastings sounds like he has enough old-school college coach in him to be wary of how the transfer portal is changing the game. But he's also playing by the rules that are in place, and that means being on the lookout for veteran players who can provide an immediate improvement at a position.
When he arrived at Wisconsin last offseason, that was center. Silye was a natural fit down the middle in Hastings' lineup and in his locker room after becoming a trusted member of the Mavericks over two seasons.
Fitzgerald, however, was more of a question. He hadn't played center at anything more than a youth level of hockey so putting the sophomore there this season was something of an experiment that has turned out just fine.
"From a coach, being able to know that that's a position that you have flexibility and trust in who you're putting out, it's everything," Hastings said.
Centers aren't easy to find, he said, and are essential to a team's play throughout the ice. Winning faceoffs is a highly visible way of helping the team but being support in the defensive zone is just as important.
Fitzgerald sought advice from Silye and Owen Lindmark, who's in his fifth year as a Badgers center and has produced career highs in goals and points. Pro teams have taken notice of the play by Fitzgerald, who's an NHL free agent.
"I was excited for that challenge, and I felt also individually it helped round out my game," he said.
McClellan was looking for a more direct route to a pro career when he announced nearly two years ago that he was leaving Mercyhurst for Wisconsin. He has found a big stage on which to play.
"When you hear of Wisconsin, you think of all the history," McClellan said. "I think that's one of the things that made my eyes light up when I first saw that was an opportunity. And that's come to reality now. We're in the tournament and this is what everyone dreams of doing."
Team construction has taken a sharp turn since the 2021 NCAA rule change that eliminated a one-year layoff for players transferring in men's hockey, football, basketball and baseball. Players can look for a faster route into a lineup and coaches can find ways of changing their roster with veteran players instead of recruited rookies.
Hastings said his approach is going to depend on the situation.
"There is no book or recipe that you can look at and say this is going to work every year," he said. "There's going to be ebb and flows. There's going to be years where you might not be real heavy into that. I'm hoping we can still build three-, four-year players that understand the value of what it is to be at Wisconsin, well beyond the idea of what hockey is able to provide for them.
"I'm hoping that, but I'm also going to tell you, my eyes are wide open."