Michigan hockey, stuffed with NHL talent, has renewed purpose after abrupt end to last year
In July, Michigan hockey made history when four out of the first five picks in the 2021 NHL draft were Wolverines. In five days, all four — along with the Wolverines’ three 2020 NHL draft picks — will be taking the ice together for the first time.
Currently ranked third in the nation by the USCHO preseason poll, the expectations for this Michigan team are extremely high and it’s not hard to see why.
There was speculation over whether defenseman Owen Power, and forwards Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson — the first, second and fourth overall Draft picks, — would return for another year, but they had unfinished business to attend to.
The Wolverines ended last season on a uniquely disappointing note: Just hours before their first NCAA tournament game was scheduled to start, their season was cut short by a case of COVID-19.
“The way we ended last year definitely pushed (the decision to return) over the edge,” Beniers said. “We didn't really get a real shot at playing in the national tournament. … Another year for development, and getting another year in school was also definitely part of the choice. … And then, everyone’s coming back, we’re going to have a really good team.”
For Michigan coach Mel Pearson, having so many high Draft picks is a double edged sword. One of his biggest goals for the season is keeping them focused on the task at hand: Playing for Michigan.
The trio accounted for a quarter of Michigan’s goals and overall points last season, but they are hardly the only driving factors in this offense. Forward Thomas Bordeleau, the Wolverines’ leader in points and the 38th overall pick in the 2020 Draft, and forward Brendan Brisson, a 2020 Draft pick by the Las Vegas Knights, were both key contributors last season.
While Michigan has retained almost all of last year’s offensive talent, it’s bolstered its defense as well. Freshman defenseman Luke Hughes will join the Wolverines after spending last season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Hughes name carries weight in Ann Arbor: Luke’s older brother Quinn donned the Michigan sweater for two seasons, racking up 62 points in the process. But Luke is a powerhouse in his own right, drafted fourth overall by the New Jersey Devils.
Having a young team comes with its own challenges. Only one player on Michigan’s roster has played in an NCAA Tournament game. While many have seen heated competition in the Big Ten, none of the underclassmen have had to face the pressure of a one-and-done postseason game.
The only real question for the Wolverines is at the position of goaltender. After the departure of Strauss Mann — the former Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and Wolverine captain — Pearson will rely on sophomore Erik Portillo to start between the pipes. During his freshman campaign, Portillo was in goal for almost a third of total game minutes and notched a save percentage of .935, impressive considering he was behind a player like Mann.
It’s clear that the talent is there but so are the expectations for the Wolverines to deliver. For now, they’re pushing it all to the back burner.
“We've been preaching all year that there's going to be so much outside noise and a lot of things are going to happen to us that that we can't control,” defenseman Nick Blankenburg said. “The biggest thing for us is just focusing on what we're doing day-in and day-out and how we're coming to the rink every day. … We're just focused on the first game or on the next practice.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan hockey is on a mission after shocking end last season
