The state of Michigan has been the lifeblood of Wolverine hockey of late--Trouba, Werenski, Larkin, Connor, Motte, Copp, Lockwood...
Interestingly, MLive had a story on the top 25 Michigan born hockey players of all time and none of them went to Michigan but five went to MSU (Ryan Miller, Kelly Miller, Mike York, Torey Krug and Justin Abdelkader), two to Miami (Alec Martinez and Andy Greene), two to Lake State (Brian Rolston and Doug Weight), one to Ohio State (Ryan Kesler), and one to Wisconsin (Brian Rafalski). Werenski, Trouba and Larkin might one day make the list--#24 and #25 are Krug and Abdelkader. It seems like with the NTDP more of the elite Michigan players are going on to college now than in the past even if they leave early. Many of those kids have gone on to Michigan.
Unfortunately, the 2001 NTDP invite list came out today and Michigan has no commits so far. To be fair, Wolverine commit D Mike Vukojevic of Mississauga is arguably as good as any D on the list. Still, the NTDP has been the lifeblood of Michigan hockey recruiting--Jack Johnson, Werenski, Larkin, Motte, Copp. From the current team--Boka, Luke Martin, Luce, Lockwood, Sanchez, Pastujov, Allen and Kile as well as many of the best incoming recruits--Josh Norris, Mike Pastujov and Quinn Hughes next year and Mattias Samuelsson and Blade Jenkins the following year. Michigan could potentially add uncommitted Jack Hughes (Quinn's brother), Arthur Kaliyev or Johnny Beecher. Honeybaked's Josh Nodler (MSU) and Belle Tire's Marcus Gretz (OSU) have already committed elsewhere.
Interestingly, MLive had a story on the top 25 Michigan born hockey players of all time and none of them went to Michigan but five went to MSU (Ryan Miller, Kelly Miller, Mike York, Torey Krug and Justin Abdelkader), two to Miami (Alec Martinez and Andy Greene), two to Lake State (Brian Rolston and Doug Weight), one to Ohio State (Ryan Kesler), and one to Wisconsin (Brian Rafalski). Werenski, Trouba and Larkin might one day make the list--#24 and #25 are Krug and Abdelkader. It seems like with the NTDP more of the elite Michigan players are going on to college now than in the past even if they leave early. Many of those kids have gone on to Michigan.
Unfortunately, the 2001 NTDP invite list came out today and Michigan has no commits so far. To be fair, Wolverine commit D Mike Vukojevic of Mississauga is arguably as good as any D on the list. Still, the NTDP has been the lifeblood of Michigan hockey recruiting--Jack Johnson, Werenski, Larkin, Motte, Copp. From the current team--Boka, Luke Martin, Luce, Lockwood, Sanchez, Pastujov, Allen and Kile as well as many of the best incoming recruits--Josh Norris, Mike Pastujov and Quinn Hughes next year and Mattias Samuelsson and Blade Jenkins the following year. Michigan could potentially add uncommitted Jack Hughes (Quinn's brother), Arthur Kaliyev or Johnny Beecher. Honeybaked's Josh Nodler (MSU) and Belle Tire's Marcus Gretz (OSU) have already committed elsewhere.