Strauss Mann to pursue pro career
Title says it all. Instead of returning for a fourth season, Strauss Mann has decided to pursue a pro career. He’s undrafted, and too old to enter the draft so he’s a free agent able to sign anywhere he chooses.
Unfortunate considering the talent we should have on the roster and his status as one of the best goalies in the nation. Erik Portillo is expected to return, and looked solid in his limited appearances, but Mann was a proven goalie that would have been a tremendous help in our title hopes.
My attempt to embed a tweet that will inevitably fail: https://twitter.com/umichhockey/status/1388206518168821762?s=21
Michigan ice hockey goalie for those who don’t follow the team
It makes sense. I think he graduated early and it never made sense that a 3rd round pick like Portillo would come here to be a backup for 2 years before starting. So, they must have known Mann only had 1 year left.
Also the platooning when you have an All-America first string.
I love a good platoon, having two good goalies is a good problem to have, especially when none is also an option. Richter/Vanbiesbrouck was my favorite until the '93 expansion draft forced the Rangers into a decision of which of them to keep.
Sucks, but not unexpected - and M is in good shape in goal with the young guy.
Man, Strauss......
Good luck sir!!
He turns 23 in August. He was one of those recruits that doesn’t show up to play college at 18. Have to be under 20 until December 31st of the draft year to be eligible. So Mann has actually been a free-agent for a while now
He is now officially eligible to be the first member of the Seattle Kraken!
Selfishly a bummer as I'd love to see him between the pipes for another year at Michigan but completely understand the decision and hope he carves out a great pro career!
The Wings are projected to take Goalie Wallestedt at pick 7. Is Mann better ?
Not sure if he's better but Wallstedt put up some really nice numbers with Lulea in the SHL, Sweden's pro league, with a 2.23 GAA & a .908 SV%, especially as an 18 year old.
Mann would be either with the Wings or with Grand Rapids should they sign him, Wallstedt would probably stay with Lulea and should for developmental reasons.
April 30th, 2021 at 10:25 PM ^
I’d definitely say no. Mann is a bit small and despite putting up really good college numbers, it’s not quite the same as professional hockey. While Wallestedt is putting up solid numbers in a pro league in Sweden, while being quite a bit younger than Mann as well so potential needs to be taken into consideration.
A comparable situation to Mann might be Shawn Hunwick. An undersized goalie (though Hunwick was smaller than Mann) that put up great numbers at UofM. Hunwick went on to be a backup in the ECHL (step lower than AHL) for two years before going to the German league and finally retiring.
I’ll follow that by saying Mann is better than Hunwick in my opinion, but Mann isn’t up there with a top 10 pick that is doing very well in a professional league overseas. You’re looking at a potential generational talent between the pipes there.
My best guess for Mann’s career arc would be that he starts in the ECHL before becoming a solid AHL goalie, with the potential to become a solid NHL backup. He doesn’t quite have the size/athleticism to be a great NHL starter. But he’s good enough mentally and positionally that he can carve out a decent AHL or backup career.
OT: In other NCAA Hockey Transfer Portal news, there’s a report that Michigan Hockey’s senior forward Dakota Raabe has transferred as a graduate student to Sacred Heart University of the Atlantic Hockey Association. LINK
In 115 career games for the Wolverines, he had 11 goals and 22 assists and enjoyed his best season as a sophomore when he had 5 goals and 9 assists.