I want to preface this by saying that I do not have nor claim to have any insider information or connections within the program. I say all of this only as a dedicated fan who follows the team very closely.
It is going to be a natural part of life in college sports going forward that there will be more roster fluctuations and roster moving activity, with unlimited free transfers. That being said, when I look at the roster this year, unless there are guys planning to leave for reasons like feuds with teammates or with the coaches, I only see a few guys that I think are likely to be transferring. I think Coughlin and Peluso are highly likely to be gone, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Motew go either, on account of lack of playing time. Others that I could see transferring but I think are less likely include James (wasn't playing much early on, but he did play more later in the year and he's a local kid, so he also could stay), and possibly Lipinski (seemed to fall into the doghouse a few different times this year). Guys like Nobes and Calafiore look like transfer candidates, but they're both juniors and haven't left yet, so if their concern was playing time, I think they would have already left. They both strike me more as guys who have accepted their depth role and aren't likely to go anywhere. The name I think everyone will be interested in all offseason is Poirier; though I suppose its possible, I dont think he's a transfer candidate, I expect he will either return to Orono or sign with Carolina. If anyone transferred out who wasn't listed here, I think that would be a bad sign of the health of the team, to differing levels depending on who it was of course.
On recruiting, my biggest take is that, like Peterson last year, Ludvig Lafton is a guy they should bring in this coming year, and not risk losing him. I think he's the best defenseman recruit we have in the pipeline currently, and with losing a minimum of three defensemen to graduation, they'll need some reinforcements there. Mistlebacher obviously looks to be the best forward of the bunch, but reading ineverquit's description of him on his recruiting spreadsheet, I think Rowan Calvert could be a guy similar to Gerrior, who plays that aggressive style and someone that could be overlooked at first. At goalie, who knows what will happen. I think its been correctly identified by most of us that G is the position of biggest need, but I'm honestly not sure if there will be any changes in the goalie room. None of them are seniors, and unless Boija signs a pro contract (which I do think is possible), it might just be the same group of guys again next year, and hope that some offseason training and time with Alfie is enough to shore up their game. Because what are you going to do, cut Boija, or cut Rousseau? I really doubt it. Even if you cut Gage Stewart to bring in someone else, one of those three has to be the third stringer, and that wouldn't be ideal.
The portal entry window is much shorter this year, so news could be coming in hot as soon as the national championship ends. I still have a lot of faith in the coach to improve the team for next year.
