Thursday, October 15, 2015 // FACEOFF 2015
8C
‘D’ improved, forwards replacing stars
By JUSTIN MEYER
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan hockey team
is sick and tired of hearing the
prevailing storyline.
On the back of shaky defense
and
inconsistent
goaltending,
the
Wolverines
have
missed
the
NCAA
tournament
for
three consecutive years after
previously
appearing
in
22
straight postseasons. The 2015-
16 season kicks off with a strong
core of returning players, a few
new and improved pieces and
lingering unknowns. Even after
major
departures
like
Dylan
Larkin, who is now racking up
points for the Red Wings, it is
apparent
that
Michigan
has
shored up significant deficiencies.
The Daily breaks down the
Wolverines’ 2015-2016 roster:
GOALIES
A question mark that remains
more or less unchanged from
last season is the situation in net.
Senior Steve Racine and junior
Zach Nagelvoort split time last
season, each experiencing major
slumps. The Wolverines chose
to address that concern over
the offseason with conditioning
conducted by a new goalie coach,
former Michigan goaltender and
NHL journeyman Steve Shields.
Nagelvoort has looked like the
strongest candidate early in the
preseason, but Berenson made it
clear that no goalie has won the
starting job yet. With decent size
and good quickness, Nagelvoort
has been a consistent performer
throughout
his
career.
The
Michigan native posted a .920
save percentage through his first
two seasons and was drafted by
Edmonton in 2014.
Nagelvoort outshines his peers
on Michigan’s roster when he
plays at the top of the crease and
challenges shots. Though a bit
slower than Racine, his steady
performances
may
win
him
the permanent starting job this
season.
Racine, though slimmer than
Nagelvoort, has great size and
speed. 6-foot-3 and surprisingly
quick jumping out of his butterfly,
Racine is more likely to deliver
dazzling saves, but at the cost of
consistency. Racine mishandles
the puck and kicks out long
rebounds more frequently than
Nagelvoort does.
Hailing from New York, Racine
has produced three solid years at
Michigan. In 58 games, he has a
.905 save percentage and a 2.81
goals-against average.
Freshman Chad Catt is the
new addition to the netminders
this season, but he doesn’t look
likely to see action any time soon.
At 5-foot-10, Catt is quite a bit
undersized, especially compared
to the two goalies ahead of him.
More
importantly,
he
hasn’t
quite settled into the speed of
the college game, fumbling pucks
that he should direct with much
more ease. Catt will improve as
the season continues, but for now
he remains solidly in third on the
depth chart.
FORWARDS
Some of the most exciting
additions have come at forward,
where a trio of freshmen looks
ready to step into large roles
alongside elite returners. The
Wolverines were saddled with
the task of replacing Larkin
this offseason — the Big Ten
Freshman of the Year netted 15
goals and 32 assists in 2014 —
but countered with another top
talent in freshman Kyle Connor. A
veteran top two lines should also
help Michigan establish a strong
tone early in games.
The top line is built to do one
thing this season: score, score,
score.
Justin Selman and Boo Nieves
are both seniors playing alongside
Kyle
Connor,
and
the
puck
movement couldn’t be prettier.
These three find each other along
the sideboards, behind the net,
or at the top of the circles with
ease. Nieves called it a possession
line, and it will be surprising
whenever the top line turns the
puck over this season.
Connor does have work to
do,
though.
The
19-year-old
freshman can look lost on the
penalty kill and is a bit light. He’s
listed, generously, at 175 pounds.
Still, his handle on the puck is
unbelievable, and he has a special
ability to create space, even in
tight situations. Connor could
be a leading scorer on this team
if everything clicks seamlessly,
but it is more realistic to expect
some jitters as he adjusts to the
physicality of Division I hockey.
Selman
had
11
goals
last
season, while Nieves notched 21
assists. Both will look to improve
on those numbers on this high-
octane line. Nieves will also have
to carry the physicality. Tall with
a good build, he should be up
to the task, but he won’t get too
much help from either wing.
The second line features Alex
Kile, JT Compher and Tyler
Motte. This is the crew that no
opponent wants to line up against
early in the first period.
Brash, physical playing styles
contrast this line with the one
centered by Nieves, though they
still should score at a good clip.
Each of the three juniors has
tallied over 15 goals at Michigan,
and captain JT Compher has 55
career points.
Berenson
commented
that
this line needs to play “the right
way” — that is, mistake-free and
charging hard into the corners.
The Wolverines’ tone and pace of
play will come from this line and
from the captain.
There is a lot of youth on the
third line of Brendan Warren,
Cooper
Marody
and
Tony
Calderone — the oldest players are
sophomores — but also the most
upside.
Berenson
commented
that this line could be better than
a third line as the season goes on.
That potential has a lot to do
with the production that Brendan
Warren has been able to generate
early this season. The 18-year-
old played for the U.S. National
Talent Development Team in
Ann Arbor and was drafted in
the third round by the Phoenix
Coyotes.
Where
he
stands
out from his linemates, and
potentially even Connor, is in his
ability to sniff out pucks around
the net. Warren charges hard
after rebounds, displaying great
vision and strength on the puck
uncommon for a freshman.
Cooper Marody, a freshman, is
also an NHL draft pick, selected
in the sixth round by Philadelphia.
Marody is smaller than Warren,
but it doesn’t appear to hamper
his playing style. The Michigan
native played in the USHL last
year.
Sophomore Tony Calderone is
also a Michigan-born talent. In
28 games last season, Calderone
didn’t
contribute
too
much,
recording three goals and nine
assists. Those totals should jump
up this year, playing alongside
Marody and Warren.
DEFENSE
The
improvements
to
Michigan’s
roster
start
on
defense,
where
perhaps
the
most notable offseason victory
is the return of sophomore Zach
Werenski. It was thought to be a
forgone conclusion that Werenski
would jump to the NHL after
being drafted eighth overall by
Columbus. The defensive unit as
a whole is starting to gel early in
the season. Quick to the puck and
with more than a few players who
like to throw the body around,
this is certainly the biggest step
Michigan has taken since the
2014-15 campaign.
Werenski is far and away
the most talented player on
Michigan’s defensive unit, and
the likely pairing with junior
Michael Downing will be a rock-
solid unit.
Werenski and Downing should
clear the puck fast, finding
fellow Wolverines down ice and
facilitating offense. The most
complete unit by some distance,
this pairing makes it easy for
Werenski to move fluidly in
the offensive zone as well. The
smooth-skating
18-year-old
has a slick shot and awareness
with the puck. Getting him to
contribute on offense as well
as defense will be a key to the
Wolverines’ success this season,
and it’s working so far. In the
exhibition opener, Werenski had
two goals.
Freshman
Nicholas
Boka
played for the NTDP team last
year with Warren and came to
Michigan in Division-I shape.
The Michigan native is a burly
6-foot-1, 200 pounds and a
much-needed
addition
to
a
defensive unit that struggled
with fundamentals last season.
Boka has also showed a penchant
for offensive contribution, flying
by defenders when he gets a full
head of steam.
The pairing with sophomore
Cutler Martin for the exhibition
opener
worked
fairly
well.
Martin, who tallied 15 points
on defense last year, looked
comfortable playing alongside
the very physical Boka. There
were some miscues throughout
the exhibition game and practice,
but
both
these
players
are
consistently good at clearing the
zone and making appropriate
decisions.
SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily
Michigan is looking to replace Andrew Copp and Dylan Larkin at the forward spot.