Maine Black Bears 2026 Offseason: Missing Out on Mistlebacher

[amkirby10]

Maine's top recruit decided to sign a pro AHL contract rather than come to the college ranks. Transfer portal opens tomorrow, and I suspect Maine will be mentioned frequently, with both lots of departures and lots of arrivals. Denver won another national title; congrats to the Pios.

The offseason is now truly in full swing.

 

[dabears91]

Very curious to see how things shake out with departures, portal, and recruits.

Losing Josh early, Marques to the portal-supposedly, Mistlebacher to the AHL all hurt. But Maine does have a lot lined up on the wings - especially on the right side.

- Mason Fleece - ppg in the USHL 07. Probably college ready but does Maine delay him another year?
- Ross Campbell - originally slated to come fall of ‘27 but has played 4 years in the Q already. I think he is ready and Maine can use him on and off the ice now.
- Poul Anderson - had an okay start in Edmonton (WHL) then got traded to Red Deer and had a very good stint there. Probably could use another year.
- Malachi MacKinnon - terrific year for Youngstown. Played both wings. Played center last year for Sherwood. I would love to see him at center because Maine needs centers desperately. Younger brother just made U-17 USA team. Do whatever you need to keep the family connected to Maine.
- Kumza Voronin - ppg for Moncton. Probably ready but does Maine ask him to wait another year too?

I think there is a personal connection between Fleece, MacKinnon, Anderson and Dylan Dean. So getting all those guys to show is huge. But there are a ton of questions that remain unanswered with this group of who comes, who waits, and who never shows.

 

[Ineverquit]

Very curious to see how things shake out with departures, portal, and recruits.

Losing Josh early, Marques to the portal-supposedly, Mistlebacher to the AHL all hurt. But Maine does have a lot lined up on the wings - especially on the right side.

- Mason Fleece - ppg in the USHL 07. Probably college ready but does Maine delay him another year?
- Ross Campbell - originally slated to come fall of ‘27 but has played 4 years in the Q already. I think he is ready and Maine can use him on and off the ice now.
-Poul Anderson - had an okay start in Edmonton (WHL) then got traded to Red Deer and had a very good stint there. Probably could use another year.
- Malachi MacKinnon - terrific year for Youngstown. Played both wings. Played center last year for Sherbrook. I would love to see him a center because Maine needs centers desperately. Younger brother just made U-17 USA team. Do whatever you need to keep the family connected to Maine.
- Kumza Voronin - ppg for Moncton. Probably ready but does Maine ask him to wait another year too?

I think there is a personal connection between Fleece, MacKinnon, Anderson and Dylan Dean. So getting all those guys to show is huge. But there are a ton of questions that remain unanswered with this group of who comes, who waits, and who never shows.

I agree with everything you've said.

I know Maine has Dante Siciliano coming in for defensemen since he signed his LOI in January. I also assume Ludvig Lafton comes in this year as well since he is in the top 10 for defensemen points per game in the USHL and top 20 in defensemen +/-. That would get us to 6 or 7 defensemen after probable tp entries. Theres also still 2 05' defensemen in the recruit pipeline but who knows if they will still come to Orono. If Maine is going to pick up people from the transfer portal I assume it would probably be defensemen over forwards considering how strong Maine's forward pipeline is right now.

Who knows though, should be an interesting next 2 weeks or so.

 

[tylerzx2002]

Looks like both of Howard's NCAA single season records for GAA & SV% will finally fall. Johnny Hicks has enough minutes to qualify and will slightly edge him out in both categories.

 

[tylerzx2002]

Very curious to see how things shake out with departures, portal, and recruits.

Losing Josh early, Marques to the portal-supposedly, Mistlebacher to the AHL all hurt. But Maine does have a lot lined up on the wings - especially on the right side.

- Mason Fleece - ppg in the USHL 07. Probably college ready but does Maine delay him another year?
- Ross Campbell - originally slated to come fall of ‘27 but has played 4 years in the Q already. I think he is ready and Maine can use him on and off the ice now.
-Poul Anderson - had an okay start in Edmonton (WHL) then got traded to Red Deer and had a very good stint there. Probably could use another year.
- Malachi MacKinnon - terrific year for Youngstown. Played both wings. Played center last year for Sherbrook. I would love to see him a center because Maine needs centers desperately. Younger brother just made U-17 USA team. Do whatever you need to keep the family connected to Maine.
- Kumza Voronin - ppg for Moncton. Probably ready but does Maine ask him to wait another year too?

I think there is a personal connection between Fleece, MacKinnon, Anderson and Dylan Dean. So getting all those guys to show is huge. But there are a ton of questions that remain unanswered with this group of who comes, who waits, and who never shows.

I think Anderson gets pushed to 2027, but I can see Voronin, Calvert, McKinnon, Campbell, Fleece, and Siciliano all making it here this year.

Find some portal additions down the middle and maybe a couple to round out the D and I think it'll shape up to be a solid class.

 

[walrus]

going to be interesting to see who goes. Not sure about the guys coming until I see them play in Orono. At first I thought the Sioux laid an egg but after last night Wisconsin was just that good. I think the west is going to dominate college hockey next year also.