The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/703389
kin said while accepting the award. "… Playing for the Red Wings was a dream come true, and I'm looking forward to working hard this summer to get better for next season." 6. CARL HAGELIN, LW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (NHL) Hagelin was a promising young forward with the New York Rang- ers just a few years ago, recording 38 points in 64 games during his 2011-12 rookie year and being timed as the NHL's fastest skater. Most believed he was the team's future — instead he was traded to Anaheim, and then to Pittsburgh during the 2015-16 season. Now — thanks in large part to his play — he's a Stanley Cup champion. Hagelin notched 10 goals and 17 assists in 37 games after joining the Penguins and was considered one of the catalysts in the team's champi- onship run. He scored six goals and added 10 assists, going plus-nine in 24 postseason games, and has registered 169 points in 346 career games. "This has been a bust-out postsea- son for the speedy winger," ESPN. com wrote. "Hags certainly experi- enced success with the Rangers in past seasons, but he's looked like an The Up-And-Comers Five Michigan pros who will likely make the top 10 list in the future: • Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers (NFL): Funchess started five of the 16 games in which he appeared as a rookie and caught 31 passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns. His yardage total was the fifth most in franchise history for a rookie receiver, and he also hauled in two passes for 40 yards in the Super Bowl loss to Denver. • Jake Ryan, LB, Green Bay Packers (NFL): One of the Packers' plesant surprises in 2015, Ryan moved into the starting lineup during the year and started five of the 14 games in which he appeared. He finished his rookie season with 50 tackles (35 solo), including 20 total tackles in his last three games. • Jacob Trouba, D, Winnipeg Jets (NHL): Trouba played in a career-high 81 games last year, notching six goals and 15 assists and a career-best plus-10 rating. The Jets gave him a qualifying offer in June to make him a restricted free agent, and he's still considered one of the top young defensemen in the league. • Zach Putnam, P, Chicago White Sox (MLB): The White Sox' set-up man was having a great season before going to the DL June 21 with elbow problems, and he was still considering surgery as of July 10. He stood 1-0 in 25 appearances with a 2.30 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings pitched. The 29-year-old is still ex- pected to have a bigger role in the future. • Taylor Lewan, OT, Tennessee Titans (NFL): Lewan has started 21 of the 26 games in which he's appeared in his two years and was the team's starting left tackle last season. He had a much better second half, but many believe his future is at right tackle — and that he can be a good one. — Chris Balas