MHNet Update likes to win

In this roundup, Jacob Trouba zings Michigan State.   More on the Yost renovations.  Luke Glendening signs a pro contract.  And a couple of NHL.com features. 

MORE TROUBA?  MORE TROUBA.

From the ZING! department:

Free Press user Red: “Do you wish you went to Michigan State?”
Jacob Trouba: “No, I like to win.”

#winning

Trouba participated in a Detroit Free Press chat the other day in the lead up to the NHL Draft.  You can read the whole transcript here.

Other questions of note…

Free Press user Tina: “Jacob, is there any chance that you’re drafted so high tthat you turn pro and don’t play at michigan next fall?”
Jacob Trouba: “It has always been a dream of mine to play at Michigan.”

If you want to read too much in to it, he didn’t exactly say “No” to the question.

And finally…

Free Press user brad: “What would you rather do? Socre a goal or make a huge hit?”
Jacob Trouba: “Depends on the game situation, but I always enjoy making a big hit.”

I seem to recall Jack Johnson being asked a similar question and giving a similar answer (though I don’t think there was any doubt in his answer that he would prefer to destroy someone).

YOST RENOVATIONS

I got an e-mail former hockey SID Matt Trevor, who answered a few of the questions posed from my post a few days ago involving the new fifth floor.

According to Matt, the TV cameras and broadcast booth are suppose to stay at their current spot on the fourth floor because if you put them higher the Mothership will partially obstruct the view, as I thought might happen.

Matt did say depending where the Mothership is placed, it can cause problems seeing the far side of the ice.

“The dilemma became, drop the scoreboard down and make it easier for fans in lower bowl to see, or raise it make it easier to see in the suites/press box.”

Seeing as shrinking the Mothership is not an option, I’m hoping they raise it.  When it’s lower to the ice level, there’s a higher chance of a player accidentally flipping the puck in to the scoreboard and there’s also a much worse “shadow zone” underneath it, as I complained about many times last season while watching on TV.  A higher board should reduce both of those, as well as reduce the obstructed view from up top.  Sorry to those sitting underneath the overhang who can’t totally see the Mothership.  Maybe they’ll install new TVs under the overhang to mimic the video board.

GLENDENING SIGNS WITH GRIFFINS

Former Michigan captain Luke Glendening signed a one-year contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.  Glendening becomes the first Grand Rapids area native to sign with the hometown club.  Glendening said via an MLive.com article:

“It’s always been a dream. I grew up watching these guys, it was something that I did with my family. It’s something I’ve always thought about and I’m happy to be here. It’s a great opportunity.”

Shawn Hunwick is now the only unsigned graduating senior after Columbus opted not to extend him a qualifying offer.  Hard to believe after the career he had, but that’s what being 5-foot-7 will do to you in the pro ranks.  Hopefully some team in the AHL or ECHL will give him an opportunity.  After all, no one, not even Red Berenson, ever thought he would do what he did at Michigan.  All he needs is someone to give him a chance to prove them all wrong again.

NHL HITS AND MISSES

NHL.com ran a feature called Hits and Misses as it relates to teams’ NHL Draft success.  They went team-by-team picking the best 1st Round picks, middle round picks, late round picks, and biggest disappointments.  Sadly, Michigan placed more on the latter than former.

Among the Pacific Division, former Michigan goalie Marty Turco was selected as the Dallas Stars Best Later-Round Pick.  He spent nine seasons in Dallas and developed into an NHL All-Star.

But right below him, former Wolverine scoring machine Jason Botterill was chosen as the Stars Biggest Disappointment.  A former 1st round pick, Botterill was never able to find his scoring touch in the NHL, netting just five goals in 88 games over six seasons with four different teams.

Former Wolverine blue liner Jeff Jillson was an honorable mention for Biggest Disappointment for the San Jose Sharks, who chose him in the first round.

And perhaps the poster boy for Michigan misses, Ryan Sittler was named the Philadelphia Flyers Biggest Disappointment.

The Flyers took the son of Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler with the seventh pick, waited while he played two seasons at the University of Michigan, then saw him turn into one of the great disappointments of all time. Sittler never played an NHL game and was out of pro hockey by age 25.

Sittler had nine goals and 24 assists in 35 games as a freshman at Michigan, but only 9-9-18 in 26 games as a sophomore when he was expected to make a leap forward.  Per a 1993 Baltimore Sun article before the start of his sophomore season:

Sittler expects to play at least two more college seasons before signing a pro contract. At his father’s urging, Sittler is working toward a degree in kinesiology rather than knocking around the minor leagues. The elder Sittler feels his son can polish his hockey skills at Michigan while continuing his education. The Flyers will retain Ryan’s rights.

Ryan obviously didn’t take his father’s advice.  He left U-M after a disappointing sophomore campaign unpolished and without a degree and spent the next five seasons bouncing around eight teams among the AHL and ECHL before calling it quits.

Who would you consider some of Michigan’s NHL hits and misses over the years, or players who surpassed your expectations or surprised you by not living up to them?

PACIORETTY READY TO TAKE NEXT STEP

NHL.com has a feature article on Max Pacioretty’s growth as a player over this past season, which saw him put up a career best 33 goals and 32 assists for Montreal.  Check it out here.