All is not doom and gloom for Michigan Hockey, but the program has work to do this offseason:
After back-to-back-to-back Frozen Fours, the Michigan Wolverines missed the 2025 NCAA Tournament entirely, a stark departure from recent seasons, but ultimately a fair outcome. While the Wolverines absolutely could have found themselves in the tournament, finishing just on the wrong side of the PairWise bubble, Brandon Naurato’s squad rarely looked like a serious national contender.
The Big Ten Tournament defeat to Penn State was an unfortunately fitting way for the season to end. Playing at home, and likely needing just a single win, Michigan instead dropped both games at the worst possible time. Though its postseason fate should never have come down to that weekend, the failure against the Nittany Lions was illustrative of the past season — and highlights where the team must focus going forward.
Lacking firepower
One of the most glaring reasons for Michigan’s struggles was a significant drop in offensive production. In the three seasons leading up to the 2024-25 campaign, the Wolverines ranked third, first, and third nationally in goals scored. This year? 22nd. This is probably no surprise given the ridiculous amount of NHL talent on those Frozen Four rosters, but this offense’s relative struggles were still jarring.
Too often, the Wolverines appeared overly reliant on their power play. The team managed fewer than 100 even-strength goals, an unsustainable formula unless paired with elite defense and goaltending — neither of which Michigan possessed. The series finale against Penn State was a perfect example: Michigan mustered just two goals against a defense that was frankly mediocre (despite its recent tournament success). This level of production is simply not going to work going forward with the way Naurato has built this team.
A symphony of issues
With inconsistent offense, the rest of the team needed to compensate, but instead, it only compounded the problem. The Wolverines were bottom-10 in the nation in penalty minutes, had a defense that frequently left goaltenders exposed, and struggled to close out both individual games and Big Ten series. There were multiple moments throughout the season where Michigan simply could not finish off opponents, a trend that severely damaged its tournament chances.
The examples of incomplete efforts are frustratingly prevalent, including the crazy Arizona State equalizer, the collapse at Wrigley Field, and the baffling loss in Madison. Unlike past years under Naurato, when the Wolverines grew into the season after slow starts, this team faltered at the worst possible times — within games, within series, and when it mattered most on the calendar against Penn State. There was not one singular stat to blame for the team’s failure, but the accumulation of small issues proved too difficult to overcome.
Wake-up call
Like a zamboni during intermission, the Michigan roster needs some resurfacing. The program has wasted no time resetting, as nearly half of the team has already announced a departure via the transfer portal, professional opportunities, or graduation. Their replacements are not yet fully known, but the newcomers have the potential to be quite impressive; Michigan boasts a highly regarded recruiting class, and there are rumblings of potential CHL defectors who could significantly bolster the lineup. The portal remains an active avenue, and Naurato has the opportunity — and challenge — of reshaping his team.
Next season’s outlook hinges largely on this roster construction. If Michigan can add high-end offensive talent to returners like Michael Hage and the promising incoming freshmen, then 2024-25 could be a one-year blip. However, if Naurato is unable to adjust from these mistakes and continues to feature an offense without enough ability to carry the entire team, it is difficult to see next season being much different. That is a lot of pressure to put on snagging ex-CHLers for the first time in history, but the need could not be more apparent.
I choose to trust Naurato to recognize these issues and act accordingly. While hockey may not have the budget of football or basketball, the Wolverines have been extremely aggressive in the portal and can certainly match any number for someone like Gavin McKenna. This year’s roster lacked true game-changers, but Naurato can address that immediately this fall. Add a big-name scorer or two, and Michigan should be right back in the tournament next season. Fail to due so, and more seasons are going to end at the Big Ten Tournament.