2 UM Hockey incoming freshmen drafted in the 1st round
After having 4 of the 5 top picks in last year's NHL draft, two more Wolverines were selected in the 1st round tonight!
Congratulations to Frank Nazar who was selected 13th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks and Rutger McGroarty who was selected 14th by the Winnipeg Jets.
Additionally, Seamus Casey should be one of the first picks in round 2 tomorrow.
Link: https://twitter.com/umichhockey/status/1545220069592121344
https://twitter.com/umichhockey/status/1545230080678547456
There are 3 more elite incoming freshmen likely to be drafted in the first round of next year's NHL draft, too!
The Children of Yost will have a lot to cheer for next season!
Go Blue!
*incoming. Ugh
If somebody could make the Tweets hyperlinks, I'd appreciate it.
We got you covered!
I just fixed your thread title and made your links 'clickable'; MGoUser I Bleed Maize 'N Blue had responded earlier by posting the actual tweets.
Are either a flight risk?
We should have them for at least one year. After that, all bets are off.
I am furiously knocking on all of the wood in my house right now...but the OHL defections have really tapered off in the last 10 years or so. It used to be commonplace to lose a top guy to the O every year, but it really hasn't happened much recently. Most recent names I can remember is Lucas Lessio (~2010), Jack Campbell (~2009), John Gibson (~2011) Connor Carrick (~2012), Max Domi (~2011, but he probably never seriously intended to matriculate). Brustewicz is really the first Michigan Hockey Summer defection (where a guy nearly on campus or already on campus changes his mind) in recent memory
Not sure if this is attributable to the rise in perception of college players in the NHL (up to 33% now) or if the growth of the USHL has created a better Canada->NCAA pipeline or if the foundation of 1st round picks going the NCAA route before have made it more attractive and easier to recruit future 1st round picks, but Michigan has had a pretty quiet decade...
Tell me you saw that epic cringe-worthy straight-on full-tongue kiss shared by Maveric Lamoureux's parents after he got drafted.
Man, I feel bad for their son. He’s never gonna hear the end of it
If it’s not Frau Wagner, I’m not paying attention
Go Blue!
Stay Blue!
I didn't think McGroarty would go that high, but I also admit I follow any pre-draft coverage about 0%.
I don't think we had a post on it, but Hunter Brustewicz was our first OHL defection in a number of years, signing with Kitchener last week. Wonder if they offered him the Trouba deal...(don't sue me Kitchener)
I was bummed to see that news. He would have been a gem and defensive stalwart with offensive potential. Hunter has solid and efficient on defensive zone exits and seeing him on the NDTP, he really moved the puck up quick. I read somewhere that he was looking for more ice time and bet he didn't want to be on third d pairing (after Edwards, Casey, Hughes, and Truscott).
Good night for Nazar and McGroarty. I was kinda hoping that Stevie Y would take Nazar. It will be interesting to see where Casey goes in the 2nd (hopefully) and to see if either Tyler Haskins or Mark Estapa go in the late rounds. Fingers crossed for Estapa especially.
As an aside, I wonder if there is any chance that Mel pursues Brad Lambert who was taken 30th by the Jets who also took McGroarty. I'm just dreaming but it is (slightly, slightly, slightly) possible since there is theJimmy Lambert connection (Brad and Jimmy are cousins), a future teammate in McGroarty is with Michigan, Michigan has had a lot of players go to the Jets, and Brad Lambert has not planned to join any team for 22-23 yet. Speculation though is that he will in the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds (who recently acquired his rights from the Saskatoon Blades) or with the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League. Just dreaming aloud...
Carrying on the Seamus Casey discussion, I'm happy to see him go to New Jersey. This interview shows the poise, exuberance for joining Michigan, and excitement to play with Edwards and Hughes that is within Casey. So excited to see him at Yost next year: https://www.nhl.com/devils/video/seamus-casey-media-avail--draft/t-277437418/c-12138735