Erik Portillo coming back for senior season
Michigan goalie Erik Portillo returning to Wolverines for senior season...NHL rights with BUF for another year (taken 67th in 2019).
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 9, 2022
*junior season
Posbang?
My first thought as well.
Wow this is HUGE. I really didnt think he would. Id say biggest (plausible) name to come back Hughes included. This puts us solidly in one seed contention next year
This is extremely good news. I know we’re losing a lot but if Hughes, Samoskevich and Duke come back - along with Portillo and our recruiting class - have a chance to be very good.
I know Power and Johnson have already signed - and assume it’s just a matter of time for Beniers and Brisson - the wildcards are Beecher and Bordeleau.
Big return and hopefully a couple more guys stick around for another go.
Yeah Portillos a big anchor. Im sure he could’ve gone to Rochester if he wanted. Hopefully this further encourages Mackie and Hughes to return. Maybe Beecher and Bordeleau too
Great news, important part of the team to say the least 👍
Nice things, sometimes we get them!
IKEARIFFIC!
Sweet! They aren't all leaving! *happy smiley emogi*
Biggest piece imo
Great news.
There's no way next year's roster will look as good as this year's in terms of talent and draft picks, but if you have a good core (starting with an excellent goalie) you have the potential to build an excellent team.
Let's see who else we can hang on to.
Fantastic news!
He should hold off on signing with the Sabres until he can sign with the Red Wings as a free agent IMO.
LFG!!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing the puck drop next year. Go Blue!
Really surprising, and really welcome news!
April 10th, 2022 at 12:58 AM ^
Nothing like getting a key emotional leader for the team back who also happens to be a high end goalie. Wow! Fantastic news!
Portillo por the win!
Fantastic! I'd like to see him with a "C" on his sweater. If his locker room leadership is like anything we see on the ice, having a Captain Portillo makes sense.
In terms of the team, we'd be theoretically strong if we kept Hughes and Samo - but super young! If we somehow retain either Beecher (doubtful as first rounders rarely stay a 4th year) or Bordeleau (also doubtful as he is second in the Shark's prospect depth after Eklund), we'd be stellar. The incoming class looks sweet and who knows if we have any seniors coming back for C-19 years to give us depth and leadership (GVW, Moyle, and Lambert, I'm looking at you!). W/O Bordeleau / Beecher or returning super seniors for a COVID year, we're looking at most freshman at forward and a little more veteran deep in defense. Mind you, that'd mean no returning players at center... So I bet Mel is going to make a strong pitch to GVW and Lambert to return.
It's early, but without Beecher or Bordeleau and not knowing which seniors will be back - if any, here's what our lines could look like:
Duke - A. Fantilli - Samoskevich
Estapa - McGroarty - Nazar
Granowicz - Williams - Ciccolini
Brindley - Hallum - Lapointe
Reserves: Haskins, Schifsky,, Draper, Van Whye?, Moyle? Beecher?, Bordeleau? Lambert?
Hughes - Truscott
Edwards - Brzustewicz
Holtz - Casey
Reserves: Miles, L. Fantilli, Keranen, Druskinis, and Pehrson