GRAND FORKS \u2014 The NCAA <\/p>\n
men’s hockey transfer portal<\/a><\/p>\n opens Monday to non-graduates \u2014 and there will be a large wave of entrants.<\/p>\n The first thing fans should know: A significant number of players entering the portal are being cut from their teams. You’ll see up to seven cuts from multiple teams.<\/p>\n Not all of these players are looking for greener grass. A lot of them are being pushed out.<\/p>\n The second thing: There will be some prominent players in the portal.<\/p>\n The Herald has confirmed that Colgate defenseman Michael Neumeier, who ranked No. 2 in NCAA in time on ice per game, and Brown forward Ivan Zadvernyuk, a 6-foot-3 NHL prospect, will enter the portal. They will be two of the top available players. Journalist Mark Divver also confirmed Penn State sophomore J.J. Wiebusch, who has 69 points in two seasons, will enter.<\/p>\n More are coming.<\/p>\n The NCAA pushed the portal opening date back two weeks this season, so it doesn’t open until after the Frozen Four.<\/p>\n On the surface, it makes a lot of sense. But behind the scenes, moves are already being made and coaches are wondering if it was a mistake to push it back. It hasn’t slowed down portal action. It has just pushed it behind the scenes.<\/p>\n Ask any coach and they’ll tell you: Transfer season is well underway.<\/p>\n In this region of the country, eyes will be on whether St. Cloud State’s leading goal scorer Austin Burnevik and top defenseman Tanner Henricks follow coach Brett Larson to Minnesota.<\/p>\n Other high-end players to keep an eye on are Minnesota State All-American defenseman Evan Murr, Arizona State forward and first-round Calgary Flames draft pick Cullen Potter, St. Lawrence leading goal scorer Rasmus Svartstrom, Robert Morris leading scorer Tanner Klimpke, Lindenwood leading scorer Giovanni Morneau, Brown minute-eating defenseman Alex Pineau and Northeastern defenseman Dylan Compton, a star in the United States Hockey League.<\/p>\n Maine’s Miguel Marques, a third-round Nashville pick, was entered into the transfer portal before he was eligible to do so and was immediately withdrawn \u2014 usually a sign of a player who is portal-bound but compliance made a mistake by entering the name early.<\/p>\n College Hockey News writer Mike McMahon reported that Hockey East tournament champ Merrimack <\/p>\n will retain most of its top players.<\/a><\/p>\n McMahon said more will soon announce their returns, but one notable omission on the list \u2014 for the time being \u2014 is leading scorer Parker Lalonde.<\/p>\n Last year, we learned highly touted goaltenders were willing to be backups as freshmen, but not for a second year.<\/p>\n Kevin Reidler (Ottawa Senators draft pick) left Omaha after Simon Latkoczy returned, Carsen Musser (Utah pick) left Colorado College after Kaidan Mbereko returned, Luca Di Pasquo left Michigan State after Trey Augustine returned and Eli Pulver left Minnesota State after Alex Tracy returned.<\/p>\n One freshman goaltender who has a decision along the same lines is Michigan State’s Melvin Strahl, a Columbus Blue Jackets pick. Strahl sat behind Augustine as a freshman this season and is looking at another year as a backup with the Spartans bringing in Joshua Ravensbergen, a first-round San Jose Sharks pick.<\/p>\n We also learned last year that coaching changes can prompt players going into the portal \u2014 UND was a prime example.<\/p>\n So far, we’ve had five coaching changes \u2014 St. Cloud State, Minnesota, Brown, Yale and Alaska Anchorage.<\/p>\n Nine Seawolves have already <\/p>\n entered the portal.<\/a><\/p>\n The two most prominent are forwards Ryan Johnson and Judah Makway. Johnson is a scorer. Makway is a physical presence.<\/p>\n Brown is losing Zadvernyuk and will have to hope new coach Tommy Upton can keep Matthew Desiderio and Pineau, who both averaged more than 25 a night this season.<\/p>\n The Huskies have been waiting to formally announce Wisconsin assistant Nick Oliver as their next head coach until Oliver is done in the NCAA Frozen Four.<\/p>\n Oliver will surely work to keep key pieces like winger Barrett Hall, center Nolan Roed, winger Gavyn Thoreson, winger Noah Urness and goalie Yan Shostak, as well as recruits like forward Brock Souch and defenseman Nolan Stevenson. The Huskies have already lost defenseman commit Hawke Huff and it would take a miracle to retain Burnevik and Henricks. But if Oliver can keep enough key pieces in place, there’s a foundation there.<\/p>\n Minnesota is undergoing a major roster renovation under Larson, particularly on the back end, where the team struggled en route to its worst record in more than 50 years.<\/p>\n Larson has already flipped UMass defenseman commit Axel L\u00f6fgren of the Fargo Force. He’s also made headway in recruiting Everett Silvertips defenseman Tarin Smith, one of the highest-scoring blueliners in the Western Hockey League this season.<\/p>\n Minnesota will likely add a couple of transfer portal defensemen. Gopher fans will be anticipating Henricks and Murr, assuming they officially enter. Others will be leaving.<\/p>\n The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported forward Jimmy Clark, a Wild draft pick, <\/p>\n