NCAA Hockey - 2023/24 **Insert Witty Tagline**

[state of hockey]

I didn't expect UM to be able to compete with the big boys for NIL in football and basketball, but if the rumors of why Cole Eiserman de-committed have legs then my hopes that the hockey program would be more insulated might be dashed.

Agreed. This combined with a lot of big names going elsewhere has me worried. Things aren’t trending a favorable direction.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

I didn't expect UM to be able to compete with the big boys for NIL in football and basketball, but if the rumors of why Cole Eiserman de-committed have legs then my hopes that the hockey program would be more insulated might be dashed.

I wish we told bball and football to suck it since those men’s programs blow


If the rumor is true then yikes- just straight up paying people to decommit

[Kepler]

If the rumor is true then yikes- just straight up paying people to decommit

? How does the mechanics of that actually work? Who pays what to whom through what means?

[dxmnkd316]

NIL was always going to destroy what was left college sports.

This isn't a shot at anyone in particular, but thinking smaller sports would be immune from the influences of the NIL is insane. If anything, it makes them far more susceptible. A single big time whale donor can now pay a pittance (compared to football) and draw kids elsewhere.

[Bronco]

NIL was always going to destroy what was left college sports.

This isn't a shot at anyone in particular, but thinking smaller sports would be immune from the influences of the NIL is insane. If anything, it makes them far more susceptible. A single big time whale donor can now pay a pittance (compared to football) and draw kids elsewhere.

I have so many conflicting opinions on this statement.

[dxmnkd316]

I have so many conflicting opinions on this statement.

Like what? Annual free agency plus unlimited money not being a problem?

[Bronco]

Like what? Annual free agency plus unlimited money not being a problem?

The biggest schools already had seemingly unlimited money compared to the rest of NCAA hockey. Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota are able to build a facility whenever it feels outdated. Those schools still get the top recruits, just look at the NHL draft. The only difference is the kids are getting paid now too, and I'm very OK with that part.

Edit to add:

To the free agency part - Being in the NCHC I see WMU able to raid Atlantic hockey for their best players, much like WMU football gets raided by the B10 for our players. It is very conflicting. I just tell myself that my University doesn't own the players. They should go to school wherever they believe it is best for them, and this new mobility should be good. Should. Except when it leaves a player with no team because they went into the portal (in football). Again, very conflicted.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

No one will be immune. BU got this one, soon enough someone will pay someone to recommit from them.

[Slap Shot]

The biggest schools already had seemingly unlimited money compared to the rest of NCAA hockey. Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota are able to build a facility whenever it feels outdated. Those schools still get the top recruits, just look at the NHL draft. The only difference is the kids are getting paid now too, and I'm very OK with that part.

Edit to add:

To the free agency part - Being in the NCHC I see WMU able to raid Atlantic hockey for their best players, much like WMU football gets raided by the B10 for our players. It is very conflicting. I just tell myself that my University doesn't own the players. They should go to school wherever they believe it is best for them, and this new mobility should be good. Should. Except when it leaves a player with no team because they went into the portal (in football). Again, very conflicted.

The problem is that Minnesota doesn't draw in donations anywhere close to schools of comparative size, but to make it worse hockey believe it not is the red-headed stepchild at the school compared with bb and fb. So while on the outside the obvious assumption is that Minnesota should be swimming in NIL for hockey, it might be the furthest thing. Then imagine how many deep pockets reside in Boston...

Not trying to say "woe is me" - it's probably too early to sound off those alarms. But there should be no reason why a commit should have access to less NIL at UM for hockey than BU.

[Slap Shot]

fwiw:

[dxmnkd316]

But there should be no reason why a commit should have access to less NIL at UM for hockey than BU.

I disagree, in a specific context. All it takes is one person to say "I want to allocate $1M to UAH" and all of a sudden you might be able to bribe some high-end talent to enter the transfer pool or just commit from the start. There are plenty of these whales. As I said, before they just built arenas for teams. Now they may want to add some hardware and banners to those shiny new arenas.

Noe to the part you got right and what bronco is right to be concerned about. On average, teams like MN, ND, UND, DU, Bu, UM, etc are going to have a much larger pool of aggregated money than UAH, etc. NIL will absolutely push more high end talent to these schools, again, on average. You're still going to have kids that want to be a husky because dad played for MTU in the 90s (jesus...).

and money has always been a factor. The Haves have always had better facilities than the Have Nots. Long term trends may shift as teams get prioritized and demoted or folded. But you're always going to have palaces and tech the small schools don't.

[dxmnkd316]

fwiw:

What is that, like $20-25 billion in just those schools alone?

[Bronco]

The problem is that Minnesota doesn't draw in donations anywhere close to schools of comparative size, but to make it worse hockey believe it not is the red-headed stepchild at the school compared with bb and fb. So while on the outside the obvious assumption is that Minnesota should be swimming in NIL for hockey, it might be the furthest thing. Then imagine how many deep pockets reside in Boston...

Not trying to say "woe is me" - it's probably too early to sound off those alarms. But there should be no reason why a commit should have access to less NIL at UM for hockey than BU.

Will nobody think of the NCAA hockey billionaires? :-p

[Jimjamesak]

Will nobody think of the NCAA hockey billionaires? :-p

Yeah, I’m just gonna stay quiet on this one…

[state of hockey]

Maybe I’m reading things wrong, but I’m not seeing Slap Shot cry foul. This is self-inflicted in a way, MN doesn’t have the NIL setup other programs might. My bet is adjustments are made and adaptation occurs.