Penn State stunned the college hockey world by landing generational talent Gavin McKenna, leaving Michigan fans wondering what went wrong. But did head coach Brandon Naurato lose out or change course?
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Gavin McKenna to Penn State: Michigan’s Miss or Brandon Naurato’s Pivot?
Gavin McKenna is going to Penn State. You read that correctly. The generational hockey talent is not going to Boston College, B-U, North Dakota, Michigan State, any Minnesota school, and unfortunately, not Michigan…but Penn State.
Far from a traditional power, the Nittany Lions won as many NCAA Tournament games last season as they had in their previous 12. Now, Penn State is swinging for the fences with several high-profile signings and none bigger than McKenna, who is the highest-rated prospect to ever play at the collegiate level.
*Slides chips to the middle of the table*
Apparently, McKenna’s decision came down to two options: Penn State and Michigan State. One, praise be to whomever that this kid did not end up in East Lansing (Quick aside: On the same day, just a few hours later, Michigan State All-Planet forward and last season’s Hobey Baker winner, Isaac Howard, signed a professional contract and has left the team. Now, there are bad days and then there are BAD days). Two, what happened to Michigan?
The Wolverines had been considered frontrunners for McKenna’s services since the rule passed allowing CHL players to play in the NCAA last November. But as the months wore on, Michigan slowly fell out of contention. McKenna didn’t even take a visit to Ann Arbor.
Perhaps it was money-driven. Penn State reportedly offered $700,000, more than doubling Michigan State’s offer of $300,000, and likely trumping anything Michigan could have offered. The Nittany Lions are clearly in the business of pockets over pedigree as they try to buy a national title — or at least the last two wins required — with the backing of the Pegula family. Somewhere, Buffalo Sabres fans are pissed.
This is a recruiting loss that hurts more than most. Especially after it appeared Michigan was all-in on McKenna a few months ago. It felt like approaching the hottest girl in school to ask her to prom, and on approach, she is making out with the rich new kid at her locker. But after listening to Mayday Parade for a few days, it’s time to move on.
Where do head coach Brandon Naurato and the Wolverines stand without McKenna? Honestly, it’s not as bleak as some might assume. While the McKenna circus was parading between Happy Valley and East Lansing, Naurato quietly added some role pieces to help solidify the 2025 roster.
Staying among the CHL ranks, Naurato signed skilled defensemen Henry Mews and Matthew Mania, a pair of physical forwards in Malcom Spence and Justin Larose, and one of the best goalie prospects in the country in Jack Ivankovic.
These moves are in addition to the incoming transfers of North Dakota forward Jayden Perron, Cornell defenseman Ben Robertson and Northern Michigan goalie Julian Molinaro. Adding these players to the known commodities in Michigan’s freshman class, the vision for this team is starting to come together.
Projected first line: Garrett Schifsky-T.J. Hughes-Josh Eernisse
Last year’s leading scorer and best playmaker, Hughes, is likely to wear the ‘C’ this year and will command one of the most experienced top lines in the country. Flanking the captain will likely be Schifsky, a highlight reel scorer, and Big Ern, who plays like a pickup truck with finesse. This trio has the highest two-way star potential, with all three willing to commit as much energy to the defensive zone as the offensive zone.
Projected second line: Will Horcoff-Michael Hage-Jayden Perron
Unsurprisingly, this will be Michigan’s highest-scoring line. Horcoff and Hage are both first-round draft picks, and Perron, a former third-rounder, is a gifted offensive player in his own right. Chemistry may take some time to develop, and defense could be an issue, but this line has the talent to produce with any line in the Big Ten.
Projected third line: Malcolm Spence-Kienan Draper-Nick Moldenhauer
Despite playing third line last season, I considered moving Draper down just to add some experience, but the balance of talents makes more sense this way. Draper is one of Naurato’s shining examples of player development and will bring some size and goal-scoring to this group. Spence is a playmaker who thrives in transition, and Moldenhauer quietly (finally) hit his goal-scoring stride in the Big Ten Tournament last season.
Projected fourth line: Justin Larose-Cole McKinney-Aidan Park
The grind line is back! Larose, simply put, is an M-F’er on the ice and will bring an edge this team desperately needs. Joining Larose are a pair of freshmen, Cole McKinney and Aidan Park. Park is a natural center, but he should be able to handle the wing. Despite his youth, Park plays with a refined defensive game and a crazy high motor. McKinney will center this line and has been described as a “pain to play against” and one of the most consistent defensive forwards in the 2025 NHL Draft class. Together, these three personify the ideal Michigan fourth line.
Projected first D pairing: Tyler Duke-Luca Fantilli
This duo played extensively last season, and whether they are the top pair or further down the rotation, expect them to play together. A former staple of the second unit, Duke and Fantilli are both great examples of Michigan player development. Especially Fantilli, who has gone from “Adam’s token older brother” to one of the team’s most reliable players.
Projected second D pairing: Ben Robertson-Henry Mews
Robertson and Mews could easily end up as one of the top-pair defensemen on this team. Scratch that. Robertson and Mews WILL be the top pair by the end of the season. Robertson played first-line minutes last season for Cornell — the team that knocked out the Spartans in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament — and Mews is one of the most skilled offensive defenseman joining college hockey this season. Robertson and Mews could be one-two on the team for ice time this season.
Projected third D pairing: Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen-Matthew Mania
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen played left and right last season, but ended the year on the left. DRM is a defenseman’s defenseman, and Mania is a physical, puck-moving player who will “cave your face in if needed.” As a bottom pair, Naurato simply needs stability from these two.
Projected starting goalie: Jack Ivankovic
Ivankovic is the best goalie prospect Michigan has had in years. Despite being undersized, Ivankovic is incredibly athletic, technically sound, and has consistently been described as a winner. Julian Molinaro and Stephen Peck will battle for the right to rotate with Ivankovic, but unlike last year, it is definitively one player’s net.
Freshman defenseman Drew Shock and sophomore D-man Hunter Hady will compete for the extra skater spot, while freshman Asher Barnett will likely take a redshirt. Josh Orricco is still on the roster, but his production suggests he’s mostly there for vibes. Committed since 2022, forward Teddy Spitznagel could also be joining the team, but deciphering college hockey roster building only goes so far without access to Yost.
Naurato went into this offseason and took a hard look in the mirror. A few months ago, I wrote about how Naurato was burning the program down to rebuild with McKenna. But maybe my thinking was too obvious, too Monday morning GM.
Weighing the options, is one McKenna worth the combination of Mews, Spence and Ivankovic? Most would say yes, (I did a few months ago) but if that’s the case, why have Western Michigan, Denver and Quinnipiac won the last four national championships instead of the teams with exceedingly better top end talent — Michigan, Boston College, Minnesota, and B-U? Furthermore, Union and Yale have more recent national championships than those big four. Were those teams too concentrated on building a higher ceiling more than fortifying the foundation with depth?
It is clear Naurato wanted to take a different approach this offseason by spreading the wealth beyond his top lines and increase his team’s two-way ability and physicality. The names don’t look as sexy as “McKenna” on the marquee, but last season’s national champions, Western Michigan, only had eight players with NHL deals and only one was selected in the top-100.
Although Naurato is taking a new approach, it doesn’t mean he is just adding role players either. This team already features a handful of top-50 picks and a few more could still be on the way.
Depending on how you count the non-dressers, Michigan has one or two potential roster spots remaining. And as NHL Development Camps have come to an end, several big name former CHLers have decisions to make with their teams and agents. Namely, Porter Martone.
The most recent sixth overall pick has been linked to Michigan as long as McKenna was. Martone is a 6-foot-3 power forward who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers, and who would fit Naurato’s new vision of two-way physicality to a tee. However, as we found out, this connection to the program does not guarantee anything, and unfortunately, with the departure of Howard, expect Michigan State to also make a strong push for Martone.
Michigan has pivoted to a new approach to build a winner. An approach that was desperately needed as the previous has not led to a national championship since the late ‘90s. Despite the feeling of loss in the moment, Naurato and the Wolverines didn’t fold after Penn State went all in. The Nittany Lions added a King, but Michigan reshuffled with a Full House.