Hype surrounding Michigan Hockey team is through the roof

The Michigan hockey team is going to have four on the top five NHL draft picks on its team in 2021-22 and the hype is already through the roof. 

Michigan fans have high hopes for the basketball team this winter, but that might not be the only team that’s going to contend for a national championship.

That’s because the Michigan hockey team is absolutely loaded. The Wolverines made history in the 2021 NHL draft when four of the first five players selected either played for Michigan hockey or were signed to do so as a recruit.

Defenseman Owen Power was the No. 1 overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres. But the college hockey system is a little different so he had the option to return to Michigan hockey and he made that decision public late last week announcing that he would return to the Wolverines.

Here’s what The Wolverine wrote about Powers’ play last season:

"“Power was the top-scoring rookie defenseman in the league last season with 16 points. He was on the ice for 31 of Michigan’s goals and had a plus-18 rating to earn College Hockey News Rookie of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was named to the conference’s All-Freshman Team, and was named second-team All-Big Ten.”"

NHL teams still hold the rights of the college players they draft and along with Power, two other top-5 picks will be returning for Michigan hockey next season.

Matty Beniers (2nd overall) and Kent Johnson (5th overall) are also returning along with incoming freshman Luke Hughes (4th overall).

Michigan hockey also has first-round picks from 2019 and 2020, as well as five other NHL draft picks on Mel Pearson’s team which made the 2021 NCAA tournament but was unable to play. The matchup was ruled a no-contest after the Wolverines had issues with COVID-19.

Michigan hockey will be exciting

The Wolverines have a long history of standing out in hockey, qualifying for the Frozen Four 25 times, as well as winning a total of nine national championships, the last coming in 1998.

Michigan hockey last made the Frozen Four in 2018 and the Wolverines would seem to have a solid shot and one big name is Ann Arbor — Juwan Howard — wants to take in the action.

And even if you aren’t a huge hockey fan, this would be a great time to start following the Wolverines who have a chance to do some special things this season.