2026-27 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[stoneySIOUX]

3 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

I think the Rangers, San Jose and Vancouver would all be bad. Vancouver because they are trash and need to give their fans something to get excited about. 

Remember, the Rangers just drafted EJ Emery. As a Rangers fan, I know college hockey was never a consistent route for their drafted players, but they have always said they trust EJ's development with UND. They are a couple years away, so no need for an 18 year old defensemen or two come up right away. I think it would be a great landing spot for either KV or Carels, but I'm obviously biased haha.

[RhettRingers]

Just now, as15 said:

The list of 18 year old defenseman that play meaningful minutes in the NHL is basically non-existent in the last 20+ years.  It's Matthew Schaefer, Rasmus Dahlin, Noah Hanifin,and Aaron Ekblad.  That's three 1OA picks and a player that played a full year in the NCAA prior to going pro.

He looks like Schaefer...

[beastandco]

I think it’s worth noting that Carels definitely did not go rogue with commitment and his representatives certainly discussed it with potential teams before making it official.

 

[RhettRingers]

I think what we have going for us is that he is somewhat local, so will be easier for family to come down and watch. I just don't want it to be an option for him after development camp.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

12 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

JT Miller

JT Miller committed to UND in October of 2010 and reneged in July of 2011, that's a world of a difference to me vs committing in May, and reneging a month or 2 later.

[skateshattrick]

4 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

JT Miller committed to UND in October of 2010 and reneged in July of 2011, that's a world of a difference to me vs committing in May, and reneging a month or 2 later.

If I recall correctly, JT MIller was drafted by the Rangers and then decided to play in the OHL rather than college. Carson Carels is jumping from the WHL to college. 

[Wilbur]

I think regardless of where he gets drafted you're still looking at the prospect of an 18 year old (this June, still 17) kid making a monumental jump after playing against U20 guys in Prince George.  Lets see where he's at after a year in college hockey playing against some men from Duluth, Denver, Western, etc.  

I'm not a legal expert in terms of the "grant in aid" that the kid signed with UND.

Back to the draft standpoint, I don't think he's going ahead of baby Jesus, Stenberg, Molhotra, or Chase Reid.  Vancouver is likely to go whoever is left between Molhotra or Stenberg, but I think San Jose goes with Stenberg as an elite forward to play with baby Jesus of last year's draft, and Molhotra makes all the sense in the world for Vancouver with his time in the region previously with a couple of organizations.  Reid ends up in Chicago, and then Carels to NY, and Verhoeff to Calgary.  My two cents.         

[AJS]

At this point, although possible, I would think it would be highly unlikely. There was a level of pageantry put into the Carels commitment that I've never seen before from UND. It's safe to assume that Carels mind is made up, UND believes that Carels mind is made up. I don't think the commitment happens if Carels goal would be pushing for a spot in the Fall. It wouldn't make sense that a team would be so opposed to the college route for a year. 

[Sioux90]

2 hours ago, I Ranger said:

I think there's a chance we see Kernan on the wing potentially on the right side with Reschny and Zellers. 

I like Kernan at Wing too. I think it fits his game more.

[scpa0305]

2 hours ago, RhettRingers said:

He looks like Schaefer...

He’s the same size but he’s different. Carels is a great skater, Schaefer is one of the most explosive skaters on planet earth. Probably the closest thing to McDavid honestly. Schaefer is a unicorn. I really like Carels , but he’s not Schaefer.

[Fratt Mattin]

1 minute ago, scpa0305 said:

He’s the same size but he’s different. Carels is a great skater, Schaefer is one of the most explosive skaters on planet earth. Probably the closest thing to McDavid honestly. Schaefer is a unicorn. I really like Carels , but he’s not Schaefer.

Agreed. I think Schaefer's success has convinced a lot of people that he's the rule rather than a very rare exception. The vast majority of teenage defensemen who get a shot in the NHL get caved in and quickly sent down to the minors. Levshunov was drafted #2 overall with more hype and pedigree than Carels and he was also known for his physical maturity. Yet he's been a complete liability for Chicago and only dressed 18 games for them as a 19 year old rookie last year. As a general rule, I think most defensemen are better off staying in juniors/college for their first two seasons after being drafted, even when they're a high draft pick.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

2 hours ago, skateshattrick said:

If I recall correctly, JT MIller was drafted by the Rangers and then decided to play in the OHL rather than college. Carson Carels is jumping from the WHL to college. 

Yup, another point for this situation is completely different.

[Blackheart]

2 hours ago, RhettRingers said:

JT Miller

eff JT Miller!