May 2, 2023
It’s Been a Busy Offseason Already for the Spartans, Who Will Look to Make Another Jump Next Year
by Brad LaPlante/CHN Reporter
Michigan State achieved a few things at the end of its first season under new head coach Adam Nightingale. Most notably, playoff success. Even though the Spartans missed the NCAA Tournament cut by a fraction – two teams below the official cut-line – MSU still won its first Big Ten playoff game and advanced beyond the first round in a conference tournament for the first time since 2013.
The only thing MSU didn’t accomplish on its list of goals was a victory against Minnesota, being outscored 25-6 during the regular season and taking a 5-1 loss in the Big Ten semifinals.
But that’s just the start.
“We want to continue with the culture we’ve set and the environment we’ve set of how much practice matters to our team,” Nightingale said. “We want to make sure we’re improving every single day.”
Part of Michigan State’s success during the coaching change were thanks to veteran players stepping into larger roles. Senior left wing Jagger Joshua and senior center Nicolas Müller both had more points than they had ever scored in college.
Joshua brought a spark to two freshmen, Daniel Russell and Karsen Dorwart, who both had impressive collegiate starts.
“I thought [Joshua] kept getting better as the season went on and had a really strong finish for us,” the coach said. “That line clicked and he brought something that the line needed: the ability to extend plays, be physical and create time and space for [Dorwart and Russell].
“Any time there’s a coaching change, sometimes you get guys that play better under one coach, and some guys that don’t,” he said. “That’s just the nature of it, but pretty early on you could tell.”
MSU has put the college hockey world on notice, taking an aggressive approach to the transfer portal and recruiting over the last year. Certainly, the way Nightingale and the staff are using the portal this season compared with last is more aggressive.
Days after the portal opened, Michigan State added right wing Reed Lebster from UMass. The following day, Detroit Red Wings draft prospect Red Savage, who has been Miami’s best forward, announced his transfer to MSU. Over the ensuing weekend, it was announced that Tampa Bay Lightning draft prospect Isaac Howard would transfer from…
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