University of Michigan hockey players Owen Power, left, and Kent Johnson walk on campus after class before their NCAA college hockey practice in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sept. 29, 2021. Power passed on a chance to make millions this season with the Buffalo Sabres as the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft. Columbus took Johnson No. 5 overall. A majority of the 2021 NHL draft class elected to spend one more season developing before making the jump to the world's top hockey league.
“He wants a normal year,” Michigan coach Mel Pearson said. “He came to college for a reason, came to the University of Michigan for a reason: To go to class, to be a college student, to hang out with kids, to go to a football game on a Saturday and enjoy that experience.” Michigan had to withdraw from the NCAA Tournament because of a virus outbreak, but the Wolverines are loaded this season: Four of the top five NHL draft picks and five of the top 24 are wearing maize and blue this season to take a shot at winning it all.
Michigan has seven first-round picks – the most in NCAA history – and 13 players on the roster have had their names called in the NHL draft.