GBMWolverine
Fansided

Michigan Hockey Not Being Favored In Big Ten

By Grant Dossetto

Jan 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of a hockey puck and face-off circle during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Oilers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of a hockey puck and face-off circle during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Oilers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Big Ten coaches aren’t very excited about Michigan hockey this season, ranking the Wolverines No. 3. National polls have a different opinion though.

College hockey is back this weekend. Other parts of the country get to see top-20 match-ups, but in Ann Arbor an exhibition will have to do. Before Michigan hockey takes on Windsor at 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, let’s take a look at the preseason polls.

Related Story: Red Berenson back for another year

The Big Ten released its coaches poll, and the Wolverines are picked to finish No. 3 out of six teams. That was not a typo: Minnesota is the favorite, and the Ohio State Buckeyes slip into second.

Usually preseason polls are pretty dry; take a look at where teams finished last year and you will get a good idea of how people see them going into the next season. It isn’t unique to hockey. Look at football. The media poll had Oklahoma No. 3 and Notre Dame No. 10. Michigan finished No. 2 in the regular season and won the conference tournament last year.

What caused the coaches to question this team’s performance this year? There is no doubt that Michigan loses a lot. All three components of its top line (dubbed the CCM line) have moved on to the NHL. U-M will also be replacing Steve Racine in net. Racine took a large step forward as a senior last year. His .914 save percentage in 2015-16 was good for No. 6 in Michigan hockey history.

Head Coach Red Berenson has adopted the basketball method in recruiting in recent years. Michigan’s record 22-year streak of NCAA tournament appearances ended in 2012. Long-time assistant head coach Mel Pearson, along with goalie specialist Steve Shields, were gone. Thus, Berenson turned to super freshmen to energize the program.

Dylan Larkin two years ago gave way to Kyle Connor last year. Both players were one-and-done with national recognition as Hobey Baker finalists.

There is no apparent freshman phenom successor in 2016-17. Senior Alex Kile is the only Wolverine on the Big Ten’s preseason watch list. It is understandable that lost offensive production and goaltending would be seen as concerns. Still, Michigan is a top-flight program that knows how to reload. Coming off a Midwest Regional Finals appearance in the NCAA tournament, U-M hockey looks healthier than it has in years.

Also, something to note: Berenson decided to stay after last season when most expected him to retire. There is probably a reason for that. Lastly, as a point in Michigan’s favor, the coaches ranked Michigan State to finish dead last in the Big Ten.

As long as the Spartans continue to grind into general irrelevance in the college hockey landscape, Michigan has the ability to mine the talent hotbeds of southeast Michigan and Ontario with little competition. National prominence is almost a guarantee under such a scenario, not the median of a generally mediocre conference.

Next: Top 10 running backs in Michigan history

The national polls were more favorable to U-M. U.S. College Hockey Online’s first tally has the Wolverines at No. 11 in the country. That is the best preseason ranking of the seven Division 1 hockey programs in the state.

Home/Michigan Wolverines News