Hockey Hello: 5* Asher Barnett (LHD, Class of '25)

Submitted by enlightenedbum on September 20th, 2023 at 9:26 PM

Asher Barnett committed to Michigan today.  Joins his longtime teammate Cole McKinney.  They're both 5*s for whatever that means in hockey.  Barnett's projected as the #1 American defenseman in his birth year.  6'0, 185.  4-17-21 points in 20 games last year with Chicago Mission.  He and McKinney are both in Plymouth this year with the NTDP.

Third 5* in this class for Narauto.

lhglrkwg

September 21st, 2023 at 6:13 AM ^

Narauto keeping it rolling on the recruiting trail. I'd say you can probably check that box for him. Now we'll see how coaching and development go over the next few seasons, but things are looking pretty pretty good right now

 

#FutureBlue commits since Coach Naurato took over:

'04 5⭐️F Nick Moldenhauer
'05 4.5⭐️ F Mikey Burchill
'06 5⭐️ F Aidan Park
'06 5⭐️ F Michael Hage
'06 5⭐️ F Kristian Epperson
'06 4⭐️ D Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen
'07 5⭐️ F Cole McKinney
'07 5⭐️ D Drew Schock
'07 5⭐️ D Asher Barnett pic.twitter.com/4yoSXBbPMy

— Michigan Hockey's Future 〽️ (@FutureBlueIce) September 21, 2023

Watching From Afar

September 21st, 2023 at 8:25 AM ^

Turning into a pretty stark bifurcation of the sport. I guess it's always been like this to a degree, but seems to be getting more apparent.

Michigan, BC, and BU are starting to really pull away in recruiting to a point where they clearly have the most talent any given year (Minnesota too). They will have to deal with turnover more than most programs with guys probably only sticking around for 2 years before going to the NHL. That can hamper them in tournament runs. But still, any given season they could just run away with it.

Then you have other programs that sign guys who will be around for 4 years or are already over-agers. Long-term program guys that, when everything lines up, can go on a run for a year or 2 and then have to kind of restart towards a longer time horizon.

Watching From Afar

September 21st, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^

Yeah, that's a good point. The college hockey blue bloods have always recruited well, but it was only marginally better than the next 3-4 programs because those NHL stars were going elsewhere. Now, they're marginally better than the next 3-4 programs with the same guys AND they're getting the Fantilis and Beniers of the world to really elevate them.