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UW men's hockey: Turris' departure for NHL another tough blow for Badgers

Todd D. Milewski  —  4/01/2008 6:26 am

Kyle Turris' long season isn't over yet. And that news, while not unexpected, was a second blow in two days to the University of Wisconsin hockey team.

One day after finishing his freshman season with the Badgers in an overtime loss in the NCAA Midwest Regional final, Turris signed Monday with the Phoenix Coyotes and left Madison on a night-time flight headed for the desert.

He's expected to play in the Coyotes' final three games of the regular season, starting Thursday. Phoenix has been eliminated from contention for an NHL playoff spot, but the Coyotes wanted to give their 2007 first-round draft pick a quick immersion in the NHL experience before he returns to Madison to finish the spring semester.

"It was a tough decision because I love Wisconsin," Turris said via cell phone from Chicago as he waited for a connecting flight to Phoenix Monday night. "I wouldn't have traded this year in for the world. It was incredible, the college atmosphere, the lessons I learned. I couldn't have had a better coach than coach (Mike) Eaves. He taught me so much. I have to thank him so much. But I was lucky to play with some great players and learned lots from them, too."

It's becoming part of the routine of having highly skilled players in college, but for the second time in three seasons, the Badgers have lost their top scorer to an early pro signing. Two years ago, Joe Pavelski left after his sophomore season to sign with the San Jose Sharks.

Turris' departure was a lot easier to predict than Pavelski's. Turris was the third overall pick in the draft last June, and speculation then was that the center would be at Wisconsin for two seasons at most, whereas Pavelski was presented with a proverbial offer he couldn't refuse by the Sharks, who had drafted him in the seventh round in 2003.

Turris said Monday night that he had told Phoenix right away that whenever the team management thought he was ready, he would make the move.

"They showed a lot of interest and wanted me to come for the last couple of games to get experience for next year," Turris said.

The draft and its adjoining combines and activities served as the starting point for an extended season for the New Westminster, British Columbia, native.

He played for Canada in an eight-game, two-continent series against Russia in August and September. After an up-and-down first semester with the Badgers, he rejoined his countrymen to win the World Junior Championship after Christmas.

Turris, a third-team All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association selection, finished with 35 points in 36 games for Wisconsin, good enough to be only the fourth freshman to lead UW in scoring.

His season continues, however. The Coyotes play a home-and-home series with Dallas on Thursday and Friday, then close the season at defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim on Sunday. Both opponents are playoff teams, so Turris should get a glance at the highest level of the highest level.

While saying that Turris is "a great young talent," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney put the emphasis on young.

"We thought it was important to get him in here right away to spend a week or 10 days with us to see the strength and the speed and the size of the NHL players," Maloney said in an interview on the Coyotes' Web site. "This way, he can have a good summer and come back and have an impact next season."

In an interview with The Capital Times three weeks ago, Maloney said the only thing preventing Turris, listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, from being an NHL player right now was physical strength.

He also said that one reason the team would consider encouraging Turris to leave school and make the jump to the pros is so he could work with Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky, who has gained recognition around the NHL for developing the team's young players.

Talks between Turris and the Coyotes started in earnest after the Badgers' season ended with a 3-2 overtime loss to North Dakota at the Kohl Center on Sunday. The deal is believed to be worth the maximum $2.625 million over three seasons. Because Turris, 18, will play fewer than 10 games this season, that clock on that contract won't start until next fall.

Eaves didn't try to change Turris' mind when they talked Monday, according to Turris' father, Bruce.

"He was extremely supportive, as he has been throughout the whole year," Bruce Turris said of Eaves.

Todd D. Milewski  —  4/01/2008 6:26 am