2023 Early Departures & Portal Transfers

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

1 hour ago, The Sicatoka said:

20 miles to UMi; 75 miles to MSU. 

But they're not spending any time there. The big difference is they are now older when they commit, used to be everyone was already committed when they joined the program anyways.

[jk]

Boy the board is crabby.

[brianvf]

1 minute ago, jk said:

Boy the board is crabby.

Has been since fall of 2016. 

 

[Blackheart]

2 hours ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

It hasn't been in Ann Arbor for a few years now. Moved to Plymouth.

Ann Arbor is a whore.

[burd]

16 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Has been since fall of 2016. 

 

Great pun

[SpudsSioux]

3 hours ago, dustnyou said:

Are you sure? There may be some truth to that rumor.  We only recently get players from the NTDP that committed before they went there or they’re from the area.  The U17 head coach (former U18 assistant) is from Grand Forks and has been with the NTDP for awhile. His father worked for the WCHA/NCHC at both Ralph’s every home weekend  for 30+ years. Does anyone know why there’s not a positive recruiting pipeline relationship there? I find it odd with that type of connection that we don’t have a single recruit from the NTDP right now, last year, or hardly at all recently. Clearly the NTDP has taken over (from Shattuck) as the “honey hole” for top US born college hockey prospects in the past ten years or so. Located in Ann Harbor, they are the best thing to happen to Michigan Hockey  in the past 50 years as kids love it there and commit to stay there. But Minnesota, BU, BC , etc have gotten their fair share of high-Enders from the NTDP and we have gotten 0 lately. (Unless they are from the area or committed before they went there). Does anyone know why? 

The comment was that they are steering them away from UND; not that they aren’t steering them to them.  They may not be actively pushing kids to us but looking at the last 10 years it’s hard to say they’re steering kids away from us (Ausmus, Thompson, Sanderson, kleven, Caulfield, Hain). I’m sure I’m missing some. I think a lot still has to do with geographically where the NTDP is getting kids. Still hard to talk an East Coast kid into wanting to come to Grand Forks.

if Laurila doesn’t end up at UND (and Lindberg if he’s at NTDP) that would raise a red flag to me.

I would actually argue during the Hak years it appeared moreso that someone was steering away. Seems like there were a ton of decommitments (not just to us) and bolting to the CHL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SiouxFanatic]

 

[brianvf]

Harvard also lost soph forward Farrell to NHL signing today too:

https://www.uscho.com/2023/03/26/harvards-farrell-leaves-crimson-after-two-seasons-signs-nhl-deal-with-canadiens/

[SiouxFanatic]

6 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Harvard also lost soph forward Farrell to NHL signing today too:

https://www.uscho.com/2023/03/26/harvards-farrell-leaves-crimson-after-two-seasons-signs-nhl-deal-with-canadiens/

Might have more exit as well. They were pretty loaded only to lay an egg against the Buckeyes….

[brianvf]

Mass exodus predicted from Harvard, Minnesota, and Michigan.

[scpa0305]

Harvard got crushed with the early signings….LaFerriere too. They have some really nice recruits coming in but they took a hit.

[AJS]

This is the week I think we really see some real movement in the portal. Here is my wishlist:

Defenseman:

• Palocsik: Dartmouth - Currently the Top RHD in the portal
• Pyke: Alaska - Currently the Top LHD in the portal
• Krys: Brown - Currently the #2 RHD in the portal

Goalie:

• 1A: Haider - Clarkson
• 1B: Persson - Miami

 

[The Sicatoka]

1 hour ago, AJS said:

This is the week I think we really see some real movement in the portal. Here is my wishlist:

Defenseman:

• Palocsik: Dartmouth - Currently the Top RHD in the portal
• Pyke: Alaska - Currently the Top LHD in the portal
• Krys: Brown - Currently the #2 RHD in the portal

Goalie:

• 1A: Haider - Clarkson
• 1B: Persson - Miami

 

I'd switch Pyke (LH) for Mason Klee (RH, D, RPI). His brother is a UND F recruit.
Rationale? Don't take LH D minutes from the freshmen with a safety blanket named Pyke. 

[AJS]

15 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

I'd switch Pyke (LH) for Mason Klee (RH, D, RPI). His brother is a UND F recruit.
Rationale? Don't take LH D minutes from the freshmen with a safety blanket named Pyke. 

Never seen either personally, but seems like talent wise, these two aren't in the same category. If you're thinking Klee is going to be playing Top 4 minutes, we're in trouble. The issue really, is you need a legitimate high end #1 pair guy (Pyke would be) and another Top 4 guy. I believe it was last year, the US Junior team had almost every D-man was LH. Realistically, guys are going to have to play on their off hand next year. 

A lot of next season is riding on the portal.

[The Sicatoka]

I'd envision Klee as a true 9th D option for the unspeakable. 

Nothing against Pyke but I want our LH D to develop and not give the coaches a "safety binkee". 

[AJS]

6 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

I'd envision Klee as a true 9th D option for the unspeakable. 

Nothing against Pyke but I want our LH D to develop and not give the coaches a "safety binkee". 

Then have Pyke play on his off hand. Palocsik and Krys are a given. What other RHD do you see that are legitimate Top 4 guys? I was hyper focused originally on both portal guys being RHD. I just don't think it's realistic. Honestly, overall, how many Top pair guys are there in the portal for what you hope would be a playoff team? Like 4? How many 2nd pair guys? Like 8? It's a daunting task this Coaching staff is trying to complete right now.  

[The Sicatoka]

One portal RH D is mandatory minimum. A second is a nicety. But I'm thinking in terms of playable, not top pair. I'll take the bumps and bruises to develop the freshmen. 

[BusinessSoot]

37 minutes ago, AJS said:

Never seen either personally, but seems like talent wise, these two aren't in the same category. If you're thinking Klee is going to be playing Top 4 minutes, we're in trouble. The issue really, is you need a legitimate high end #1 pair guy (Pyke would be) and another Top 4 guy. I believe it was last year, the US Junior team had almost every D-man was LH. Realistically, guys are going to have to play on their off hand next year. 

A lot of next season is riding on the portal.

Scary thought that we are even relying that heavily on the portal. IMO, portal won't matter as much if the forwards don't figure how to score goals consistently 5x5. As much as the defensive woes were exposed this year, lack of scoring by forwards 5x5 has been as big or bigger an issue the past two seasons. 

[burd]

One small upside is that the young forwards seemed to improve their defensive play later in the season.  OTOH, it's hard to develop an aggressive, attacking offense if you lack confidence in the D and goalie behind you.  

Hopefully, Jake can get some pickpocketing lessons from his cousin this summer. 

[brianvf]

Portal entrants this morning:

BC D Marshall Warren (MIN)
UMass D Noah Ellis (VGK)
Lowell F Brian Chambers
Canisius G Jacob Barczewski
Providence D Garrett Sundquist
Omaha F Cameron Berg (NYI pick)
Cornell F Jack Malone
Canisius D Lincoln Erne
Bentley D Hunter Toale

[AJS]

7 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Portal entrants this morning:

BC D Marshall Warren (MIN)
UMass D Noah Ellis (VGK)
Lowell F Brian Chambers
Canisius G Jacob Barczewski
Providence D Garrett Sundquist
Omaha F Cameron Berg (NYI pick)
Cornell F Jack Malone
Canisius D Lincoln Erne
Bentley D Hunter Toale

You would add the top 2 to the list. Warren was a first pair guy at BC. Ellis is intriguing to me. He would not be the top pair guy you would need, but I would actually like him as the 2nd / 3rd pair (or 2nd ranked portal d-man). He would be a sophomore, so not as polished as others, I've named, but high upside. RH shot as well. 

 

Edit: Think of Ellis as a replacement for Johnson's upside. 

[The Sicatoka]

Ellis, Erne, Toale are RH D. 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Cameron Berg from Oma-FRAUD is intriguing.

[BusinessSoot]

1 hour ago, burd said:

One small upside is that the young forwards seemed to improve their defensive play later in the season.  OTOH, it's hard to develop an aggressive, attacking offense if you lack confidence in the D and goalie behind you.  

Hopefully, Jake can get some pickpocketing lessons from his cousin this summer. 

Interesting take, I disagree. For as may "grade A" chances this year 5x5, that were not converted by the forwards, leaves to wonder why? I highly doubt it is because they were worried about the backend/ goalie. Opportunities were certainly there, not a very good conversation rate.

I would also be intrigued on how many 5x5 and "big/crucial" goals were scored by the d-core over the past two years. I can think of several games/instances where that was the case. 

[jk]

Although the exact circumstances probably vary widely, to me there are three general flows in the portal.

1. Fifth line forwards or fourth pair defenders from big schools who want to play more.  They generally go to "lesser" schools.  Think Blaisdell to UNH.

2. First or second year studs at lesser schools, who became more than their recruiting profile suggested, who want the big school contending experience.

3. Guys near the end of their eligibility, sometimes from lesser schools, but not necessarily, who want to contend or just want a change of pace.  Sidorski and Farmer both fit that profile.  

I don't really think we want much of (1) above.  Budy might kind of fit that.  (2) is promising, but comes at the expense of your pipeline.  Could be good if you have a hole in the pipeline.  (3) seems to be where we're shopping.