nascar99

I'd hammer the phones to bring in Ben Kindel and/or Cameron Schmidt, but that's just me.

The nice thing about the addition of Reschny is that it means that you have two high end distributors in him and Swanson. So if Swanson takes a bit longer to fully break out, we shouldn't have to worry because Reschny should be racking up assists right away. I can only imagine how good Zellers will be on the PP with Reschny &/or Swanson. I think Zellers is one of the most underrated incoming freshmen in the entire NCAA, what he did in the USHL last season was special & rare.

Tech was worse in 2024-25 than in 2023-24 so that had some effect, but he regressed a bit as well. A lot of people were banking on him putting up better numbers with better linemates, but no guarantees of that in a tougher conference/schedule.

The other thing, and this is key for confidence and part of offensive development, a lot of forwards need to put up big point totals. Harder to do that in the NCAA as opposed to junior. A lot of guys will take the easier route, but route that will build confidence by seeing the puck go in the net and their production remain high. Certain NHL teams, Boston specifically, love the NCAA route, and will steer their uncommitted drafted prospects to the NCAA route, while others will let the kids make their own educated decision, or even prefer keeping those guys in the CHL after get them signed to their ELC. We will see what happens. I think Ben Kindel needs to go to the NCAA for a couple years instead of stat padding even more in the Dub for 2 more years. Just my opinion

That's certainly possible, but it could be any of Ryan Lin, Daxon Rudolph, Shaeffer Gordon Carroll, Carson Carels, either of the Ruck Twins, Chase Harrington

Not gonna get my hopes up about DuPont. Just has the feel of Denver or Michigan to me.

Assuming they have their credits done to be eligible, NHL teams would steer their prospects to the NCAA instead of going back to junior/signing pro. Boston has done that with several of their prospects who they drafted out of European junior & weren't under pro contracts (Jellvik, Svedeback, Locmelis, Nassen, Kostadinski)

Ben Kindel, Braeden Cootes, Cameron Schmidt, Lynden Lakovic, Roger McQueen (if healthy), Nathan Behm are in/around the Carter Bear tier of Dub forwards I'd like to add. But who knows how many of them want to play in the NCAA, they could just sign their ELCs after being drafted.

I think it'll depend on what the trend is with 1st time eligible commits on August 1. If more of the 2009 born CHLers start committing on August 1 2025 and shortly after that, then teams will have more time to plan out/stagger their recruiting classes. The current issue is that the new rules coming into effect last November is that you had all of the 2004 born overagers, 2005s, 2006s, 2007s, and 2008s in the entire CHL become NCAA eligible overnight. We knew that plenty of the 2004s would commit to CCHA/ECAC/Atlantic schools with a handful ending up in the NCHC/B1G/Hockey East, but we didn't know if/when 2005s, 2006s, 2007s, and 2008s would commit. Tons of 2005s have, and we've seen an increase in 2006s/2007s/2008s commit in recent months. But there are still plenty uncommitted, many of whom are 2025 Draft eligible and then a ton of em are 2026 Draft eligible. Very intrigued to see how everyone in junior & NCAA hockey adapt.

Really wonder where Roger McQueen will play next year. Could go back to the Dub to play for a full year, but there's a decent chance he's outgrown junior and needs a higher level of competition. Can't go to the A, nowhere close to NHL ready at current moment. He's certainly someone I could see at Michigan or North Dakota for a year or two. Will depend on who drafts him and where they want him. Would be nice to get a Brandon to UND pipeline going though.

Ritchie was rumored to Boston University last week, although there's speculation he goes to wherever McKenna goes. We'll see. He showed a lot of flashes in the Memorial Cup Final last night, you can see why the Wild took him in the 2nd.

Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State until proven otherwise IMHO. Unless we can confirm he's on campus for a visit, I don't think North Dakota is in the race

Chyzyk is aware of every high end player coming up in minor/prep/HS hockey because he's had to do that as the Waterloo Black Hawks GM in the USHL. This gives North Dakota a massive advantage moving forward. Chyzyk knew who Cole Reschny was back in 2022 at minimum, he knew who Keaton Verhoeff was back in 2023 at minimum. It's very likely that Motzko, Sandelin, and Hastings had no idea who Reschny and Verhoeff were until some point in late 2024 or early 2025 after the rules changed. Plus, those guys don't strike me as the types to follow Canadian minor/major junior hockey much.

Royce Pietila (2007) committed to Lake Superior State a number of months ago. No guarantee he's the last either, the Pietila family seems to stay around Howell/Hartland/Brighton Michigan and play hockey.

I think the key is for Verhoeff to come back for his sophomore season. For example, say he goes top 5 to the Sharks, Chyzyk & Jackson need to work well with Mike Grier to make sure that Grier is on board with UND's development plan for Verhoeff for another year. Verhoeff takes off from a production and defensive maturity standpoint as a sophomore and then steps into the Sharks lineup in spring 2027 after the UND season is done. That's probably the ideal.

Helps having Pegula money for the NIL. Don't be surprised if the Sabres draft Smith or even draft another uncommitted CHLer and then magically "steer" him to Penn State. Then you'd imagine the NHL passes some sort of rule against owners contributing NIL money to NCAA programs.

Verhoeff as a 16 year old >>>>>> Sanderson as a 16 year old We'll see what type of development jumps Verhoeff takes. Sanderson had a very solid 17 year old season at the NTDP, but even then was seen as a bit of a reach at 5 for the Senators. Then Sanderson had two monster years at North Dakota on stacked teams and has gotten better & better since.

To give an NHL comparable, Verhoeff seems like a 17 year old more advanced version of Alex Pietrangelo. Big right shot but more offensive skill.

Looks like projected top 15 pick Jackson Smith to Penn State.

And Cooper Williams (Saskatoon Blades) committed for 2026-27.

Misa could go either way. Depends on what the team who drafts him wants him to do for his D+1

We appear to be getting close to Gavin McKenna news. Buccigross must be hearing something about Michigan State.

He is not

I believe the Kamloops Blazers still have Ashton Schultz on their protected list, so he could report there if he wants to go back to junior but instead go to the Dub