nascar99

Finn Loftus (Blaine, MN) to NCHC screams UMD or SCSU to me

Kawaguchi was never a surprise to me, simply based on statistics and age. He didn't enter the NCAA until his 20 year old season, and his 20 year old freshman production at UND was just fine. Same with his 21 year old sophomore season, just decent, so he didn't take off until his 22 year old season. If you don't produce very well at higher levels at younger ages, it's harder to make it to the NHL, unless you also have an elite trait or fit the bottom 6 work your ass off mold like Cole Smith. IIRC, Kawaguchi wasn't an elite skater. Zellers is producing at a super elite level in a defensive junior league (USHL) in his 18 year old season. He will come in as a 19 year old freshman and I expect him to be an elite sniper from Day 1 as long as this staff doesn't screw him up. What frustrated me most about 2024-25 was not seeing enough of the elite skill of Mac Swanson, some of which is certainly on him, but also most definitely on the coaches for the systems they ran that didn't fit Swanson's play style. Hope he makes a significant jump in year 2.

Broten Sabo (Alaska Fairbanks) to Ohio State per McMahon

Ryan Beck of Colorado College in the portal after a brutal year in terms of production

Austen May of Providence College in the portal. Decent right shot depth defenseman.

Wonder who actually has been doing most of the recruiting in recent years. How much was Berry doing? How about Jackson, Goehring, even Simpson over the past year? Feels like they haven't been aggressive enough to go hard after guys & get them, and have simply been getting the easier local/regional recruits, even resting on their laurels. The CHL opening up is a get out of jail free card for the program, considering North Dakota's history with Western Canadians and all of the UND connections across Canada. Just not sure if the staff will work hard, tooth & nail, 24/7 to recruit the elite talents & talented physical grinders.

The best uncommitted, not under pro contract 2004 in the Dub is Kenta Isogai of the Victoria Royals, who was once committed to Ohio State before he signed his Standard Player Agreement in the Dub (before the CHL-NCAA eligibility rules changed). Not sure if he still wants to go to university, but he's an option. I expect them to be heavily after some talented 2006s like Carter Bear and Roger McQueen, and some 2007s like Ben Kindel, Jackson Smith, Gavin McKenna, Cole Reschny, but unsure if those guys will be willing to pivot from major junior to NCAA right now if at all (depends on who drafts them & what those NHL teams want, McKenna is the exception being 2026 Draft) as well as how many are that interested in North Dakota right now given the coaching change and relative mediocrity that this program is in right now. If you go younger, you get far greater talent, but more youthful immaturity and mistake prone play that fans will complain about. You saw that this year. Really depends on how Jackson runs his systems, hopefully it is more modern, offensive driven, with steady defensive principles still a primary focus.

Looks like Zaacharya Wisdom to Western Michigan

There's also a moderately big difference between bringing in a 2004 out of the CHL versus bringing in a 2007 like Cole Reschny, Ben Kindel, or Gavin McKenna. Interested to see who/how Jackson approaches with the recruiting strategy, especially since most of the older CHLers are committed or have already signed pro deals, while the younger CHLers aren't showing their hand &/or might be trying to sign after being drafted & thus bypass the NCAA. Over the next several months, should be able to get at least 5 commits out of the CHL, the Dub specifically, who we can stagger their entries to UND as needed.

Ryder Ritchie (2006, Medicine Hat Tigers, 2024 Minnesota Wild 2nd rounder) is still unsigned. He could definitely go to the NCAA for a year or two. He might be a Gavin McKenna package deal kinda kid, but definitely worth bringing up here. I saw a few Goofers fans brought him up a couple days ago as an NCAA target.

Western Canadian kid with no fear and can score? Yeah, UND fans will love him

Ugh, but makes a lot of sense

Schloss has Boisvert to Boston University and Perron to Michigan confirmed on his portal list.

Matthew Perkins (2023 Vancouver 4th rounder, Minnesota Duluth) in the portal. Had a terrible year for the Bulldogs as a sophomore.

The 3 Ferris State guys in the portal (Shoudy, Gault, Burtch) all have solid counting stats. I wonder where they end up, that program has been down for awhile. Ferris State, if they actually put in the work to recruit, should be one of the programs that benefits from new CHLers coming into the NCAA.

NA3HL stud to NAHL average starter to D3 stud to D1, very nice progression

Pretty slow day in the portal where the most notable name is a 6th round pick leaving Ohio State

Blackhawks want him in the NCAA another year to develop. Guessing Connelly and Vegas preferred him in Henderson next year developing in the A.

Dans Locmelis (2022 Boston 4th rounder, UMass) signs his ELC

Trevor Connelly (2024 Vegas 1st rounder, Providence College) signs his ELC.

Looks like Penn State is ready to go hard after CHLers per Marek's blog. The Sheet Blog: Slew of first-timers could rock NHL head coach carousel for 2025-26

Would like for specifics on how they're recruiting the CHL, if they're utilizing their (Western) Canadian connections to recruit the new player pool that has opened up. Hopefully Dane is building relationships with CHL coaches to build pipelines in the years to come.

Might be bringing in Heil this fall, so might only need 1