BY MICHAEL SPATH
H
ere's the good news for
Michigan hockey fans —
among the nine recruits the
Wolverines have signed in
the 2016 class, not one is a Dylan Lar-
kin or Kyle Connor-type that will be
poised to play one season in Ann Ar-
bor before leaving for the NHL.
Now here's the bad news for Michi-
gan hockey fans — the Maize and
Blue have not signed one Larkin or
Connor-type in this current class,
when they'll likely need an elite of-
fensive talent to compensate for the
departures of Connor and juniors Ty-
ler Motte and J.T. Compher, who com-
bined for 83 goals in 2015-16.
"It's a solid group," associate head
coach Billy Powers said. "There is no
first-round pick, but there are going to
be guys playing in our top nine right
away up front and playing well, and
then our depth on defense continues
to be a strength with three players
BIG SKATES
TO FILL
Michigan's Nine-Man Class
Will Be Given Chance To Play
Important Roles Immediately
Following Early Departures
Incoming freshman goalie Jack LaFontaine
is ranked as the No. 10 North American
netminder by the NHL's Central Scouting
Service.
PHOTO COURTESY JANESVILLE JETS