tnt

I wouldn’t be surprised if Penn State could push off a few recruits to make room.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7125603/2026/05/16/liam-markus-ruck-twins-2026-nhl-draft-sedins/ Sounds like the Rucks are waiting until after the draft to decide whether to go NCAA. Says they will talk it over with their agent, which might mean they could require a bit of NIL, which may be why UND didn’t wait, and possibly already know a destination should they decide to go NCAA.

DuPont looks so effortless in his skating. He can do a quick pinch at the point, yet because of his elite skating can recover quickly if he doesn’t get there before the opposition. He would help force our power play to move the puck fast, as he is either moving the puck fast, or circling himself. That said, if the talk of Carels waiting until the draft to decide whether to turn pro or go to college it would suggest he would be a one and done possibly. With the same possible of DuPont and Verhoeff and Emery probably leaving after next year, that would be a lot to replace. Although if a big NHL ready body like #1 overall Owen Power can stay two years, like Jake Sanderson, you never know, although Covid had a bit to do with that.

Would it be safe to say both our power play pairings at the point would most likely be defensemen in that scenario. To your point, who wouldn’t be a part of that mix if you had offensive talent like Verhoeff, MacKenzie, Carels, DuPont and Laurila? And to be honest, even Boser saw pp time with Arizona State, but that wouldn’t mean much with the above talent. Makes me wonder if they truly are going for two big names or if they have a seasoned older stay at home defenseman waiting in the wings, although why wouldn’t they have announced that already if their season ended? Definitely keeps us on the edge of our seats, much like it would be next year if they did land two big names on defense.

Will be interesting to see if they can get Hughes to sign an extension early, or if he would possibly want to play with his brothers a year down the road.

The guy had some issues that he needed to deal with. I think he took some time off after that to deal with his issues.

Who were the high end forwards on Denver last year? We have Cooper Simpson coming in, and he is probably drafted higher than many of Denver’s forwards were. We probably will just be getting our elite guys on defense, which could possibly be why they went with more experienced forwards.

…and how many of Denver’s recruits plug in to their first and second lines right out of the gate? Denver isn’t generally stocked with first round talent.

Disagree. Portal is to get experienced guys that can help put you over the top because they have proven skills and compete level that you aren’t positive you can get from a first year forward, even if he has NHL potential. You’re not always going to get a guy that produces like Martone and Reschny.

Would be interesting to know if UND switched directions about CHL forwards when it became a bidding war, rather than what we can do to develop players for the next level.

Didn’t Engel enter the portal?

I see two EGF players were selected in the WHL draft at #30 & #47, Mason Auger & Jace Magner respectively.

Does that mean we can get the old WCHA back together?

If they win the next two at home, they win the series. A tall task, but when momentum starts to roll, it’s hard to stop. Wedgewood isn’t exactly the cream of the crop, but then again, neither was Darcy Kuemper.

Saw there was a Laurila from Moorhead as well.