nascar99

Good for Berg, wishing him the best

Chicago Steel in junior. The Chicago Steel have sent a ton of players to Michigan in recent memory. Perron probably believes that Naurato and a more open offensive system can boost his numbers (even though that didn't really happen for Whitelaw this past season).

In the portal, interested to see where Di Pasquo goes

Early Departures Thread, not Portal

Theo Wallberg (2022 Ottawa 6th rounder, Ohio State) in the portal

Will Zellers is going to be a lot more impactful than many expect, that's my prediction

Denver got Broz a couple years ago, Pohlkamp & Salminen this past year. Denver really takes advantage of guys who were committed elsewhere who end up decommitting, which results in the Pioneers getting them last minute.

Zakreski (Portland Winterhawks, WHL) is a decent start, middle tier guy who can score. Everyone is saying the CHLers are waiting for the major junior season to end, potentially take official visits, the draft eligibles will see who draft them, and then make decisions at some point during the summer. I am confident that North Dakota will be adding more CHLers in the near future. The bigger name programs (North Dakota, Michigan, Michigan State, Boston University, Boston College, Denver) are all saving a couple spots open in hopes of getting a big name kid from the CHL who would come in next year. Until then, we wait and see what Jackson does in the portal

Callum Tung of Connecticut to the New York Rangers per Friedman

While another step back in the Pairwise would be somewhat understandable, most fans won't accept it. Jackson and staff have to be working hard to make sure a Wisconsin esque decline does not continue.

Boisvert to Boston University, it may appear? That's what Cam Robinson (EliteProspects draft & prospects expert with a lot of sources) is saying.

Interested to see what Dane's first big addition will be, whether through the portal or new recruit. The fans need a win in some way, shape, or form.

Looks like we're getting closer to full confirmation of Perron to Michigan.

Might just have to build the roster the old way: 1 or 2 elite guys, several solid skilled but tough guys that aren't high end NHL prospects, and some more character guys at the bottom of the lineup. Definitely able to reshape the roster through the portal as well as grab some high end or even middle tier CHLers who reshape this roster quickly.

He was committed to North Dakota back in 2020 and 2021 and then decommitted & committed to Colorado College.

Gabe Perreault of Boston College signs his ELC with the New York Rangers.

Our old friend Tyler Dunbar of Colorado College in the portal as well. Seems like an easy CCHA target, especially for the Michigan schools given he's from Sault Ste Marie Michigan.

Oh yeah, that nightmare weekend in Colorado Springs, he was dominant for long stretches. Wonder if he wants to go back further east, from Toronto, family been through a lot with poverty/finances, would be nice for them to have a shorter trip to see him play. His older brother still in the Flyers organization.

Zaacharya Wisdom (2023 Seattle 7th, Colorado College) in the portal

Feels like there's a bit of an identity crisis in the program as there are just fewer tough skill guys than there was 25 years ago. So do you continue to recruit the top end guys if those guys are soft? Or do you recruit more "below UND talent level" CCHA type guys who do play with bite/edge on a consistent basis, and avoid most of the blue chip guys? I feel like Carle & Denver have found the sweet spot of recruiting a ton of moderately to above average skill waterbugs who forecheck hard. Seems like a lot of the "old school UND" type guys: players who were mid to later round picks, not elite guys who are guaranteed NHLers, but very good NCAA players. Dylan James (and maybe Croal/Littler) was the only guy who was tough, fast, and fairly skilled on a consistent basis all year, although I didn't watch every minute of every game this year so I could be wrong.

Need to get Toews to call him and sell him on all the positives regarding UND

Ugh

Christ...

Yes, but you still want to maintain relevance across all of North America in order to be able to get a few top end guys from outside your normal recruiting base. Pinto is from New York and he was a great player at UND. The staff can offset some of these losses with some nice portal additions and a couple last minute home run additions from the CHL.

On the positive side, I do like what I saw from Croal and Littler. Littler got hot at the right time down the stretch. He should be a very good 3-4 year player. Hopefully Jackson and staff fully unlock Swanson so we can see what he did in junior at the NCAA level on a consistent basis.