On the latest Michigan hockey podcast, Alex and Dave were tasked by Brian with assembling an NHL team composed entirely of Michigan players. For starters, they decided to build the team entirely from the 25 former Wolverines who made the opening day roster of an NHL club. Here is the tweet:

https://twitter.com/umichhockey/status/1711818924491505908

The most glaringly obvious hole would be at the goaltender position as there isn't a former Wolverine net minder on a single NHL roster. Erik Portillo is currently stationed with the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. Strauss Mann is currently in Laval, Quebec, the AHL affiliate of the Montréal Canadiens. Alex chose both Portillo and Mann as the goaltending tandem by default as there are no other options. Big time yikes.

The good news is we have plenty of talent to fill out the remainder of our 22 man roster. When Alex comprised his roster he focused mostly on offense and wasn't too concerned with two way play. When building my roster below I made sure to have at least one quality two way player on each forward line given the situation in goal. While Gonzaga great Adam Morrison once quipped that outscoring the opposition is good defense, that doesn't tend to work unless you have generational talent on your roster.

So let's get to building that roster.

Forwards (13 total)

First Line

I like the first line Alex assembled, so we'll roll with his lineup:

Kyle Connor - Dyan Larkin - Zach Hyman

Kyle Connor is all offense all the time and feasts with the man advantage.

https://twitter.com/NHLJets/status/1713305097856225622

Connor is a perennial 30 goal scorer and nearly hit 50 goals two seasons ago. While he's not known for his two way game, you need guys who can put the biscuit in the basket, and Kyle Connor is that guy. 

Dylan Larkin is likely familiar to many given his career as captain of the Red Wings. 

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1714075314727313682

There are a few guys on this team you could make the case for being team captain, but Larkin is the most natural given he currently captains an NHL team and has spent nearly a decade in the NHL. He has the perfect blend of experience while still being firmly in his prime. His speed has been his calling card in the NHL, but there have been questions about whether or not he's truly a top line center. While the 1C role will likely belong to Matty Beniers in a couple years, Larkin is our guy in 2023.

Zach Hyman is having himself quite an NHL career carrying some guy named Leon Draisaitl. 

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1714438057804407025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1714438057804407025%7Ctwgr%5E7faf70da0528c0b3fa896acf1f06a688c6927546%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boards2go.com%2Fboards%2Fboard.cgi%3Faction%3Dreadid%3D1697599512.00255user%3Dthevictorspage%3D1

On this team of Wolverines, Hyman would be a natural to play the net front role and win board battles. While he's never been a huge point producer, he's carved out a role on a top line because he does all of the grunt work and plays a sound two way game.

Second Line

I'm going to depart with Alex on this line as "Patches" seems more like a 3rd liner at this stage of his career.

Adam Fantilli - Matty Beniers - J.T. Compher

Both Fantilli and Beniers are future first liners for this Wolverine team, but for now they hold down the second line. Fantilli is so green the only highlight we have is his first assist.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1712621087798796635

Beniers is the reigning Calder award winner after his rookie season with the Kraken. There aren't a ton of options at right wing, so I went with Compher who plays on the wing and is off a to strong start for the resurgent Red Wings. 

https://twitter.com/Peter_Baugh/status/1713364033540354442

Compher does all of the little things like Hyman, but is strong in the face-off dot and can play that net front role. Fantilli is starting off on the left wing for the Blue Jackets and time will tell whether he's a pivot in the NHL. Dylan Larkin also played on the wing when he first entered the NHL.

Third Line

Max Pacioretty - Josh Norris - Luke Glendening

This line is the one kid and a couple goats line as Glendening and Pacioretty are 34. Norris had a stellar campaign with the Sens two years ago potting 35 goals. It was just announced that he is back in the lineup for the next Sens game after missing last season with a shoulder injury.

https://twitter.com/CoyotesGameBot/status/1503524813704368130

While I don't think he's a consistent 30 goal scorer, both Norris and Pacioretty give you scoring depth while Glendening is the glue guy who can also win you faceoffs. Fans tend to hate Glendening when their coach plays him on a scoring line, and the reason why coaches tend to do that is because they can trust Glendening. 

Fourth Line 

Johnny Beecher - Andrew Copp - Tyler Motte

Now is the time to remind you of the situation in goal. We do not have an NHL goalie, not at this time. So I treated this like a real NHL fourth line and not a glorified All Star lineup. On a real NHL team Copp would likely play further up the lineup, but I am giving Norris the nod on the 3rd line based on his offensive production. This fourth line is a classic shutdown line and we need one of those with the situation between the pipes. 

Press Box 

Andrew Cogliano

Given the absurd amount of depth we have at defense, I decided to have one extra forward for our 22 man roster. Mackie Samoskevich was sent down to the AHL recently and Thomas Bordeleau and Kent Johnson aren't solid NHL contributors just yet, so I went with Cogliano as it is common to have a veteran sit in the press box and play when injuries pop up. While Cogs is no longer the threat he once was as a younger player, he has the versatility that comes in handy when you need to plug a hole in the lineup. 

Defense (7 total)

First Pairing

For the defense, my aim to create as many natural LD - RD pairings as possible while also having one rock solid defender on each line. 

Quinn Hughes - Jacob Trouba 

I totally agree with Alex on the top line. Hughes and Trouba can easily play 25 minutes a night. Quinn Hughes is one of the best offensive d-men in the league, a human highlight reel. 

https://twitter.com/StefanKubus/status/1111470870491512833

Being a Red Wings fan, I have long lamented not drafting Quinn Hughes. Jacob Trouba brings the sandpaper to the party. 

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1622782426538979329

I get the feeling Trouba could have played tight end on a Jim Harbaugh coached football team.

Second Pairing

Owen Power - Luke Hughes

Owen Power would be on a top pairing on any team that doesn't have the dynamic Quinn Hughes skating circles around the opposition. If you want to protect a lead, you can cut back on Quinn's ice time and pair Power with Trouba and watch the opposition meekly attempt to enter the Michigan end of the ice. Power is the complete package while only lacking top end offensive production. 

https://twitter.com/HockeyDaily365/status/1714431163761066305

Zach Werenski - Jon Merrill