The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/99673
First-Half Grades For Michigan's Skaters And Goalies Sr. A.J. Treais, A-: One of the few skaters playing up to his potential, with team highs in goals (10) and points (16). Jr. Mac Bennett, A-: U-M's defense has been atrocious this season, but Bennett has brought his best game after game. Fr. Jacob Trouba, B+: Has consistently been one of Michigan's top four players all year, but needs to gamble more intelligently. Sr. Kevin Lynch, B+: The effort and physicality is there every game, but he needs to make more of his chances count. Fr. Boo Nieves, B-: One of the top skaters on the team, has three goals and nine assists, and could be a breakout second-half player. Sr. Lindsay Sparks, B-: Promotion to No. 1 line means the excuses stop — he needs to put the puck in the net more consistently. Fr. Andrew Copp, B-: An energy/checking-line player, he's taken minutes away from veterans Andrew Sinelli and Jeff Rorhkemper. Jr. Derek DeBlois, B-: Though a top defensive forward, DeBlois was expected to offer more offense this year but has just two goals. Fr. Justin Selman, B-: Possesses the all-around game to be a plus as a third-line center, but is still looking for stability. So. Zach Hyman, C: Michigan likes his attitude and effort, but it's up to Hyman to carve out a bigger role. Fr. Steve Racine, C: By comparison to his classmate, goalie Racine looks good, but his numbers and play have been average this season. So. Travis Lynch, C: Lynch can be one of the top defensive forwards on the team, but hasn't been as good as he was in his freshman year. So. Alex Guptill, C-: Not enough offense (just four goals and 11 points) for U‑M's top returning goal scorer. So. Mike Chiasson, C-: One pretty decent game followed by a clunker. Chiasson needs to play with physicality more regularly. So. Mike Szuma, C-: Seeing the first meaningful action of his career, the defender has had some good moments, but not enough. Jr. Kevin Clare, D: Much was expected out of the junior defenseman after a strong finish in 2012, instead he has regressed. So. Phil Di Giuseppe, D: Skating with determination, but two goals from one of the top offensive talents on the team isn't cutting it. Jr. Luke Moffatt, D: Though capable of being a two-way forward, Moffatt was recruited to score and in 16 games hasn't once. Sr. Lee Moffie, D: The fourth-year defenseman has been playing like a rookie, and might be the odd-man out Sophomore forward Phil Di Giuseppe has struggled mightily this season, tallying just when Jon Merrill returns. So. Brennan Serville, D: One of two goals while posting a plus/minus of three defensemen pulling this grade minus-five in U-M's first 17 contests.Kjeldsen Photo by Per helps show why U-M is struggling. Fr. Jared Rutledge, D: His numbers say it all — 1-4-0 record, 4.57 goals-against average and a .847 save percentage. So. Andrew Sinelli, Inc.: Has played in only two games. Fr. Daniel Milne, Inc.: Has played in only six games. — Michael Spath 60 the wolverine January 2013 What the Wolverines severely lack, though, is team talent forged through chemistry … a confidence in every player on the team to do his job on every shift, and a belief that when they step on the ice, the Maize and Blue are the best team. "We're not any better than anybody else, but we're not any worse than anybody else," head coach Red Berenson said. "We have a chance every night, but we have to max out our effort every night, and that's what these guys have to learn. "It's a bit of attitude. You're dealing with players that aren't playing well. We have guys in the lineup that haven't scored. They're working hard, but are they playing well? Not as well as they need to." Defensive Play: Michigan expected its defensive corps, led by senior Lee Moffie, and juniors Jon Merrill, Kevin Clare and Bennett, to anchor the team while two new goalies sorted out the kinks, but when Merrill went down in the preseason — he's not expected back from a cracked vertebrae until January — everyone had to step up a notch, and few have responded to that challenge positively. Freshman Jacob Trouba has been outstanding, with some rookie mistakes, while Bennett has also been very good. Moffie, however, is playing poorly and could find himself a healthy scratch when Merrill returns. Clare remains the same player he was in 2011 and 2012 — maddeningly inconsistent — while sophomores Brennan Serville and Mike Chiasson have both taken steps back from the promising play they showed late last year. "Defensive play is more than just the defensemen, it's the forwards, too, but I really thought with the depth on the blue line that one injury wouldn't affect them like we've seen with Merrill," Trainor said. "You never want to say one guy is the key, not on a team where 19 guys play every night, but they're missing a piece on the power play, on the penalty kill, someone that can play and neutralize an opponent's best line, and a guy that adds offense and a calming influence. They're missing Jon Merrill." Leadership: On the ice, senior A.J. Treais is doing everything he can to lead the Maize and Blue, scoring 10 goals with six assists in 17 games. Unfortunately, his quiet unassuming nature may be a bad mix with a team