The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS NHL Draft Stirs Up Michigan's 2012-13 Roster ing and a curse for the Michigan hockey pro- gram each year. With the addition of incoming rookie defenseman Jacob Trouba, who went ninth overall to the Winnipeg Jets, the Wolver- ines can boast about 18 first-round picks since 1976 — a significant recruiting tool. However, the draft also coincides quite often The annual NHL Entry Draft is both a bless- with the poaching of U-M skaters and goalies by professional teams in the NHL and CHL. And this year has been no different thus far. Trouba headlined a four-man draft class for departures hurt, Michigan will return 11 for- wards (and has signed four), giving U-M 15 for 12 spots in the lineup. Eight defense- men are set to compete for six starting spots. That's the case if the Maize and Blue roster stays intact for the next two months, though both Trouba and sophomore forward Di Gi- useppe are candidates to leave. The 6-2, 196-pound Trouba, who spent the the Maize and Blue, joined by second-round forwards Phil Di Giuseppe (No. 38 overall to the Carolina Hurricanes) and Boo Nieves (No. 59 to the New York Rangers), with defen- seman Connor Carrick going in round five to the Washington Capitals (No. 137). Carrick, who originally committed to Michigan on March Incoming defenseman Jacob Trouba was chosen by Winnipeg with the ninth pick of the first round in the 2012 draft. PHOTO BY TOM SORENSEN/USA HOCKEY 13, 2010, during his sophomore year of high school, seemed exactly like the kind of talent that would thrive in a college setting for four years, but he pulled a 180, signing with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL (a division of the CHL) on June 29. "Everything the OHL has to offer from hockey perspective is exciting," Carrick said. "The idea of playing the amount of games we will [68 in the regular season versus 36 for college hockey] is exciting. I'll have the chance to play the style of game I want. And then Plymouth is very well respected with a great head coach in Coach [Michael] Vellucci. "This was a situation where all the pieces fell into place. past two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program and is considered the top North American defenseman in his age group, appears firmly committed to a Michi- gan career. "I'm going to Michigan," he said. "Winnipeg Michigan enjoys a long and storied NHL tradition, but no school has been hit harder by defections than the Wolver- ines over the past decade. Trouba is a Wolverine for now, but he may not be long for Ann Arbor, potentially following in the footsteps of 2007 first-round pick Max Pacioretty, who spent one season at U-M, or 2005 first-rounder Jack John- son, who wore a winged helmet for two years. "When I feel I'm ready, and the Jets feel I'm ready, I'll make '" I'm not going to have to billet. My brothers will be playing hockey in Michigan and my family is looking at apartments. I can still go to class and work towards my degree. "Everything about the move just fit better than at Michigan." The Maize and Blue have now suffered two early de- partures this offseason, and 21 since 2000, first losing forward Chris Brown on March 29. The 6-2, 194-pound Brown was a second-round selec- tion of the Coyotes in the 2009 NHL Draft (the No. 36 overall pick) and signed with Phoenix, voiding his senior season. In 125 games over his three seasons, he scored 34 goals and had 46 helpers. U-M also graduated Year Player 1976 David Shand 1987 Bryan Deasley 1991 Aaron Ward 1992 Ryan Sittler 1994 Jason Botterill 1998 Mike Van Ryn 1999 Jeff Jillson starting goalie Shawn Hunwick, defenseman Greg Pateryn, and for- wards David Wohlberg and Luke Glendening from last year's team. Though both early back to working out, and I'm trying to get bigger and stron- ger so I'm ready for the season. "I haven't talked to the coaches about playing time, and I " said Trouba. "I just got wouldn't expect to — I want them to treat me like I'm just another freshman. I want to earn whatever playing time and opportunities I get. found effect on the Wolverines this season or during the four years he would have called Yost Ice Arena home. "The fact is, Michigan U-M'S FIRST-ROUND NHL DRAFT PICKS Team Atlanta Flames Calgary Flames Winnipeg Jets Philadelphia Flyers None Dallas Stars 2001 Mike Komisarek Montreal Canadiens 2003-04, 2006-12 2002 Eric Nystrom 2003 Jeff Tambellini 2004 Al Montoya 2005 Jack Johnson New Jersey Devils San Jose Sharks Calgary Flames Los Angeles Kings New York Rangers 2005 Andrew Cogliano Edmonton Oilers 2006 Mark Mitera 2006 Chris Summers 2006 Trevor Lewis Winnipeg Jets 2007 Max Pacioretty Montreal Canadiens 2009-12 2012 Jacob Trouba Anaheim Ducks Phoenix Coyotes Los Angeles Kings 2011-12 2009-12 N/A 20 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2012 2006-11 Carolina Hurricanes 2007-12 2008-12 None NHL Career 1977-81, 1983-85 None 2001-09 will still be Michigan in 2012-13, and that won't change with me decommitting, 1994-95, 1997-2010 1998-2000, 2002-04 2002-04, 2006 2006, 2008-12 2009, 2011-12 praising the program. "It was nothing that Michigan did or didn't do. I had a good rela- tionship with them, Coach [Billy] Powers es- pecially, and the phone call wasn't easy, but they were very classy about it. Wished me the best of luck. "I hope they're suc- " he said, " Carrick, meanwhile, doesn't expect his exit to have a pro- " hasn't talked to me about signing. I told them I was going to Michigan and they said that was, 'Fine by us. a decision when I need to, but they want me to go to Michi- gan to develop, and I'm excited about going to Michigan and competing for a spot this year, cessful and have a great team this year, but unfortunately I won't be a part of it. — Michael Spath