The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2023 ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS registering 13.3 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds per contest. ADAM FANTILLI GOES NO. 3 OVERALL IN NHL DRAFT Michigan freshman forward Adam Fantilli was the heavy favorite to be selected No. 2 overall by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2023 NHL Draft June 28, but the organization pulled a stunner by going with Sweden's Leo Carlsson instead. The Columbus Blue Jackets took Fantilli with the next choice at No. 3, and he signed his rookie contract just days later, ending his U-M career. Phenom Connor Bedard (Canada) was selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. Fantilli, the 2023 Hobey Baker Award winner as the nation's most outstand- ing college player, became Michigan's nation-leading 33rd player or incoming recruit to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. In the last five years, the Maize and Blue lead the way with 11 first-round picks, and they hold the re- cord with 28 consecutive years of having a draft pick from their roster. Fe l l ow f re s h m a n fo rwa rd G av i n Brindley joined Fantilli in being chosen by Columbus, hearing his name called with the second pick of the second round (34th overall) on the second day of the event June 29. He plans to return for his sophomore year in Ann Arbor, after posting 12 goals and 26 assists last season in helping U-M to its NCAA- record 27th Frozen Four. Fantilli and Brindley join three for- mer U-M standouts with the Blue Jack- ets: defenseman Zach Werenski, center Kent Johnson and defenseman Nick Blankenburg. Fantilli already impressed at Blue Jackets development camp in early July, with the 18-year-old showing some early leadership skills to go along with his high-level play on the ice. "He's a very mature young man who takes his job seriously," Columbus gen- eral manager Jarmo Kekäläinen said. "Leadership is always expected from players of that caliber, and he's shown that." MATTY BENIERS WINS CALDER TROPHY AS NHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Former Michigan forward Matty Be- niers put together an outstanding first season in the NHL and won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. He received 160 of the possible 196 first- place votes for 1,836 voting points. For- mer U-M defenseman Owen Power, the No. 1 overall draft choice to the Buffalo Sabres in 2021, placed third with 929 points. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Beniers helped lead his team to the playoffs in the franchise's second season. The 20-year-old led rookies in goals (24), points (57) and plus/minus (plus-14) in 80 games. He was second in assists (33), and added 10 power-play points, 148 shots on goal and 4 game- winning goals. "What a season he had," Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said. "He's an im- pressive young man, just works and im- proves and picks the areas. He picks the areas of his game that maybe aren't his strengths and he wants to attack, and he doesn't run from it. And so that's a real important thing. That's why I think he's going to be a great player for a long time." FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE MLB Through July 23 • Jake Cronenworth (Played at U-M from 2013-15), IF, San Diego Padres: Batting .211 with 74 hits, 8 home runs, 38 RBI and 40 runs in 351 at-bats for the 48-52 Padres … The St. Clair, Mich., native generated 4 hits, 3 RBI and 2 runs in a three- game series at the Detroit Tigers July 21-23. • Tommy Henry (2017-19), LHP, Arizona Dia- mondbacks: Pitched in 16 games with 15 starts, totaling 83 innings … Posted a 5-3 record, 4.01 ERA and 1.37 WHIP for the 54-46 Diamondbacks, who stand second in the National League West division. • Rich Hill (2000-02), LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates: Started 20 games and has a 7-9 record for the 43- 56 Pirates … Recorded a 4.84 ERA … At 43 years old, is the MLB's oldest player this season. Isaiah Livers • NBA The Detroit Pistons picked up his third-year club option for the 2023-24 season. The forward averaged 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game with 52 appearances and 22 starts last season. He shot 41.7 percent from the field and 36.5 percent on three-pointers. Moritz Wagner • NBA He signed a two-year, $16 million contract to remain with the Orlando Magic. Wag- ner is coming off his best professional season, in which he averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per outing, while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from distance. He appeared in 57 games with 18 starts. Cyesha Goree • WNBA The 6-foot-2 forward signed a hardship contract with the Washington Mystics July 12 — her first WNBA deal. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native went undrafted in 2015 and spent the last eight years playing professionally overseas and for Hungary's national team. — Clayton Sayfie HEADLINERS Former Michigan athletes in the news this month Forward Matty Beniers won the Calder Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year. He helped lead Seattle to the playoffs in the franchise's sec- ond season and led all NHL rookies in goals (24), points (57) and plus/minus (plus-14) in 80 games. PHOTO COURTESY SEATTLE KRAKEN