Three Michigan State players are among more than 200 across the nation who have entered the college hockey transfer portal after it opened at midnight Monday, April 13.
Goaltender Melvin Strahl, who backed up this season’s Mike Richter Award winner, Trey Augustine, entered the portal and reports indicate he will head to Minnesota next season. This comes after Augustine’s former backup, Luca Di Pasquo, left after the 2024-25 season to attend Minnesota, where he became the Gophers full-time starter in the second half of this past winter.
MSU depth forwards Nathan Mackie and Austin Baker also entered the transfer portal Monday.
Mackie, a former captain of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the British Columbia Hockey League, appeared in 20 games for MSU over two seasons, recording one assist. Baker, a seventh-round selection by Detroit in the 2024 NHL draft, appeared in 14 games this past season as a freshman and recorded one assist.
However, the Spartans appear likely to be adding a talented forward. While nothing is official, multiple reports say Arizona State forward Cullen Potter will enter the portal and will end up a Spartan.
Potter, a first-round pick by Calgary in the 2025 NHL draft, had 12 goals and 14 assists in 24 games with ASU last season. Potter originally committed to attend MSU as part of its 2025 recruiting class to join the Spartans in a future season but decided to decommit and join the Sun Devils, who had a spot available for him in 2024-25. In two seasons at ASU, Potter had 25 goals and 23 assists in 59 games.
There have been some notable early portal movements in the Big Ten, including St. Cloud State forward and second-leading scorer Austin Burnevik transferring to Minnesota to follow former Huskies coach Brett Larson, who is replacing Bob Motzko as the Gophers coach. Minnesota also landed talented St. Cloud State freshman defenseman Tanner Henricks.
The Gophers also landed a big-time blue liner in junior Evan Murr, who heads to Minnesota after transferring from Minnesota State. Murr was the CCHA Defenseman of the Year and had 10 goals and 20 assists in 40 games with the Mavericks.
Wisconsin, coming off a national title loss to Denver on April 11, added some defensive depth in Northeastern transfer Dylan Compton and Vermont transfer Caeden Harrington.
Penn State lost forwards J.J. Wiebusch and Nick Chin-Degraves to the portal. Wiebush, who saw talented linemates Charlie Cerrato and Matt DiMarsico both turn pro, would’ve been the Nittany Lions’ top returning scorer.
Michigan hasn’t yet added anyone from the portal, but got big news following the Frozen Four as sophomore forward Michael Hage has opted to return to the Wolverines. Hage is a first-round pick by Montreal and was expected to leave and possibly join the Canadiens for the NHL playoffs.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott and Bluesky @nathanielbott.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU hockey loses 3 on first day of portal but could add elite forward
Reporting by Nathaniel Bott, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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