Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

[UMICH]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

2016-17 schedule is out, sort of.

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-hock...051316aaa.html

This years schedule is night and day better than last years, even though there are several of the same teams. We go to Dartmouth this year, also to Vermont. BU comes to Yost this year and we go to Big Rapids. Tech comes to Yost for a pair and, to everyone's delight, so does Lake State. Michigan actually goes to Arizona State for one game(I think that trip is more of a vacation, like the football team if they ever went to Hawaii). Seriously, one game? Michigan opens the season hosting Union. I like the schedule, now let's see if we'll like the team next year. Of course we'll love Michigan, but will they be any good (for Michigan's standards)? We lost a lot, and then there is always the goalie question.

Also, either it isn't scheduled or we don't play Team Jail-Bait this year...

****SOMEONE MAKE A 2016-17 THREAD ALREADY***
(and don't forget to put an icon in the title to make it easier to find)

wT- You doing it last year worked out decently. Wanna go for it again?

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

I missed this announcement last month- 8 of the hockey team earned their way on the B1G Academic list-

Tony Calderone, So., undeclared, Trenton, Mich.
Cutler Martin, So., undeclared, East Lansing, Mich.
Zach Nagelvoort, Jr., sport management, Holland, Mich.
Sam Piazza, So., engineering, Darien, Ill.
Niko Porikos, So., undeclared, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Steve Racine, Sr., general studies, Williamsville, N.Y.
Justin Selman, Sr., sport management, Upper Saddle River, N.J.
Max Shuart, Jr., political science, Northville, Mich.

Steve Racine and Justin Selman were named 3 times!

Very cool.

[alnike]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

While the 2016-17 version of the Wolverines could overachieve, this is the most average/generic looking Michigan hockey roster probably since the 1998-99 season with freshman Mike Comrie at Center and Soph. Mike Van Ryn on D. Only because of the lack of talent in the BIG, I will still have relatively high expectations for next year like second place in the regular season.

Lots of question marks. Team defense/Goalie play will be the most critical to overcome the decline in goal. production. New team leaders, new special teams....At least the team has five full months to prepare for next season with the players at hand. Hopefully the returning players accept the challenge and not have a "woe is me" attitude about losing five departures.

[UMICH]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Not enough traffic for an off season thread.

Maybe start a 16-17 thread- since we *probably* have lost all we should. So should be building from here out.

Who is Captain and the assistants is a good question... Of our new Senior class- only Nolan DeJong and Alex Kyle has played a lot. The rest- Evan Allen, Kevin Lohan, Max Shuart, and Zach Nagelvoort.

hmm

My guess, and that is purely a guess, is that it will be Kyle. I honestly have no idea though, I do not know anyone on the current team.

***BTW, I vowed never to start another season thread after the fiasco that resulted in 2010. And to think, that was only the tip of the iceberg...

Someone else needs to step up (and don't forget to put the smiley face icon in the title- makes it easier to locate the thread).

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

and with that, we should close this thread and start an off season thread

Not enough traffic for an off season thread.

Maybe start a 16-17 thread- since we *probably* have lost all we should. So should be building from here out.

Who is Captain and the assistants is a good question... Of our new Senior class- only Nolan DeJong and Alex Kyle has played a lot. The rest- Evan Allen, Kevin Lohan, Max Shuart, and Zach Nagelvoort.

hmm

[billmich88888]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

and with that, we should close this thread and start an off season thread

[umichjim]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

So who will be the new captain?

[alnike]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

None of the five signings were surprising, resigned to that fact. Think the only hope was the small odds that one would stay. Red and staff will be busy this offseason determining a way to grind out wins next year with question marks on every aspect of the roster.

[Hammer]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Compher signs with the Avs.

[UMICH]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

When he didn't announce right away, I figured he was waiting until after the Hobey Baker presentation (whichever way that was going to go).

Now we just wait to see what Compher will do. I was shocked last year when our would be 2 year captain Copp left. Will Compher be a 2 year captain, or will he follow his line mates?

I'm actually kind o hoping that he stays and believe that the reason may be because he wants to be the man next year. He was playing third fiddle behind both Connor and Motte. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who has an immense ego but you know that he must have some sort of ego to play at such a high-level. I guess I'm hoping he stays and laid out the reasoning, no idea if he will return or not. If a gun was put to my head I'd guess he comes back but honestly I don't know.

[5mn_Major]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

You think UW can turn it around that quickly? I am thinking a couple years for them. Kunin and/or Besse could conceivably leave and they would be pretty bare. Even with them, there isn't a lot to work with.

As for MN, without one or both recruits with scoring potential recruits coming in, I don't see much of a jump in expectations.

Yeah. UW can be up there. The question is not who is great. The question is who is left.

MI was the best team in the league and is losing the keys to the car. Even Steve Racine is graduating. They might reload, but they easily could have a rebuilding season. And with Red wavering, it can't help stability. PSU is graduating the core of its teams including main goalie Skoff. They are left with this years freshmen and next years freshmen (the same position UW has been in). OSU and MSU have not been top teams for a decade. Hildabrand is leaving. And neither of those team had records much better than UW.

As you say, MN's plight is likely up to a couple of freshmen (one of which says he is not coming) and even then, I can't imagine that they have no competition. That leaves UW. The team that two years ago had like no wins...was a team full of freshmen. Well this year that will be a team 60% full of upperclassmen. Add in what has the potential of being a very high powered coaching staff. Yeah, I'm willing to put them in contention relative to all the other teams. I just don't have a read on MI.

[alnike]

Has Motte announced a decision? Haven't followed that closely. (Wasn't there an early departure thread? Or is there a spreadsheet somewhere?) If not, what is common thought on him?

motte is long gone. Compher only one left to decide. Very surprised if he stayed. CCM line playing at world championships next month.

m will have to grind out a lot of one goal wins like mn did last year.

I predict third place behind gophers and Ohio state (if they keep three players). Wisconsin does not have the talent they used to, especially on defense and goal.
An even more bland league next year. Win the playoffs or go home. Top players are kloos and Schilkey.

[Koho]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Now we just wait to see what Compher will do. I was shocked last year when our would be 2 year captain Copp left. Will Compher be a 2 year captain, or will he follow his line mates?

Has Motte announced a decision? Haven't followed that closely. (Wasn't there an early departure thread? Or is there a spreadsheet somewhere?) If not, what is common thought on him?

[Koho]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Pretty major defections (but understandable as you've got a handful of Hobey finalists).

Do you guys think you can compete for the B1G title next year (I would imagine vs. MN, UW)?

You think UW can turn it around that quickly? I am thinking a couple years for them. Kunin and/or Besse could conceivably leave and they would be pretty bare. Even with them, there isn't a lot to work with.

As for MN, without one or both recruits with scoring potential recruits coming in, I don't see much of a jump in expectations.

[wasmania]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Pretty major defections (but understandable as you've got a handful of Hobey finalists).

Do you guys think you can compete for the B1G title next year (I would imagine vs. MN, UW)?

Probably best to focus on the playoff championship, don't you think? What with the autobid and all.