The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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HOCKEY RECRUITING line than the first while he improves his defensive awareness to complement his high offensive skill. A defenseman, Martin played a handful of games at forward this past year and with a glut of blue liners, he shifts back to forward, adding defense and strength to this line. Lockwood is the most accomplished scorer among the five freshman forwards and would benefit playing alongside Marody, who had 10 goals and 14 assists in his rookie year. Third Line Left Wing Center Right Wing Fr. James Sanchez So. Brendan Warren Jr. Tony Calderone Warren spent his freshman year at left wing and is more natural there, but Michi- gan is desperate and Warren is a very good defensive forward that should be able to transition to center. Calderone scored 11 goals last season and could play on the second line — he was Marody's right winger most of 2015-16 — but Michigan will want to space out its veterans to bring balance to at least three lines, and Calderone has an es- tablished rapport with Warren as linemates this past year. Among the three remaining freshmen wingers, Sanchez enters his rookie season with the most momentum. Fourth Line Left Wing Center Right Wing Fr. Nick Pastujov Fr. Adam Winborg Sr. Evan Allen Allen finished his junior season playing the best hockey of his career, but he will have to earn every promotion to a better line next season after three inconsistent campaigns thus far. Winborg will probably get the first crack among the incoming freshmen to cen- ter a line while there will be no shortage of competitors for the final winger spot, including Pastujov, rookie Steve Merl, juniors Alex Talcott and Niko Porikos, and maybe even another converted defenseman, junior Sam Piazza. First Defensive Pairing Left Right Sr. Nolan De Jong So. Nick Boka Could make the case that the two were playing better defensive hockey than Werenski over the final month, though Werenski possessed a more rounded game.