On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The 2024 Men’s Frozen Four concludes Sunday, April 13. With only four teams remaining, many top NHL prospects have already announced their moves to other top schools. Most notable of the prospects are 2023 first-round picks Matthew Wood and Charlie Stramel, as well as Eric Pohlkamp and Cruz Lucius.
Matthew Wood
Wood was the Nashville Predators’ 2023 15th overall selection after scoring 11 goals and 34 points in 35 games for the University of Connecticut his draft year. He is a big-body, physical winger who possesses a strong wrist shot. He was a consensus top prospect and was expected to take big strides this season. After scoring 16 goals and just 28 points, he has announced his transfer to the University of Minnesota, which now becomes one of the favorites for the 2025 National Championship.
His decision came at a similar time to St. Louis Blues’ top prospect Jimmy Snuggerud announcing he would be returning to Minnesota for his junior year season. Snuggerud had 21 goals and 34 points this past season and is expected to play on Wood’s line on the opposing wing. The two will join forces to become one of the most dominant offensive lines in college hockey and will help one another take multiple steps in development. Wood’s hard-nosed, power-forward playstyle mixed with Snuggerud’s elite shot will allow the two to spend time with other highly skilled players, something Wood did not get much of with Connecticut these past two seasons.
Eric Pohlkamp
Pohlkamp was one of the older players selected in the 2023 Draft, going 132nd to the San Jose Sharks. The right-handed defenseman spent this season with Bemidji State University where he had 11 goals and 24 points in 32 games. He is by no means an offensive defenseman, but his numbers were impressive for a rookie, finishing second in goals for the team. As he hopes to continue his development, he will be joining the University of Denver next season.
Denver is one of the best atmospheres for defensemen, with head coach David Carle most recently turning Zeev Buium, a 2024 Draft eligible, into a dominant offensive defenseman. While Pohlkamp may not use the three remaining years of eligibility in college, he will make strides in development during his time in Denver, regardless of how long it lasts.
Charlie Stramel
Stramel, just like Wood, spent his draft season in the NCAA as a member of the University of Wisconsin. He was a lottery pick-hopeful entering the season, but his five goals and 12 points in 33 games had many questioning if he would go in the first round. He ended up being selected 21st by the Minnesota Wild, a franchise that has a surplus of young talent. Entering his second season in the NCAA, he was expected to boom as a prospect, but did the opposite, having just three goals and eight points. As a result, he is expected to transfer to Michigan State.
Staying in the Big Ten conference, Stramel is joining Michigan with the hopes of finding an elevated role on a team that can help develop his offensive game. His struggles at Wisconsin stem from a lack of opportunity under new coaching. At Michigan, he will reconnect with his former USA Hockey coach, Adam Nightingale. Stramel will hope to leave and get into the top-six for Michigan, a role he failed to obtain with Wisconsin, playing a more offensive-oriented style of hockey. As a Wild prospect, he will hope to grow comfortable in a green sweater as he hopes to join Minnesota in the coming seasons.
Cruz Lucius
Lucius was an out-of-the-blue name to enter the transfer portal. He was selected 124th by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022 but was part of the Jake Guentzel trade where he ended up on the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has spent the past two seasons with Wisconsin, scoring 24 goals and 68 points in 70 games. While it is currently unknown where he ends up, there are a few schools that could make sense for the 20-year-old right wing.
The two likely deciding factors in transferring are contending for a national title and development. With Boston University gaining top 2024 draftees Cole Eiserman and Kamil Bednarik, as well as currently having one of the best teams in the country as they are competing in the Frozen Four, they stick out as a school that would be a fit. Other schools he could look at are Boston College, the University of Minnesota, the University of Michigan, and the University of Denver.
It appears as if hockey is finally catching up to the use of the transfer portal in college sports, and it could not happen at a better time. As the NCAA season concludes and fans gain a better picture of the favorites for next year’s national championship, be sure to keep an eye on these top prospects who embark on the next parts of their journeys.
More must-reads:
- Is Kirill Kaprizov worth a record-setting contract?
- Browns' Shedeur Sanders addresses missing practice with arm soreness
- The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Big Changes, Bigger Expectations
Even though not every offseason move was entirely within their control, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally made significant changes following yet another playoff letdown. The departure of longtime president Brendan Shanahan was met with applause from fans hungry for a new direction. The other major change—the trade of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights—was more circumstantial. The team opted to trade him before losing him for nothing as a UFA. Still, despite the drama, the most optimistic among the fans believe there’s reason to believe this Maple Leafs squad could be even better in 2025–26. Here are three quick hits for fans to watch as the season unfolds. Quick Hit One: Could a Healthy Matthews Be a Game-Changer? Auston Matthews’ 33-goal, 78-point campaign would be stellar for most NHL players—but by his standards, it was a down year. Lingering injuries clearly held him back, and though he played 67 games, he was a shadow of his 69-goal self from the season prior. With a full summer to recover, Matthews is expected to return to elite form. A healthy, fully engaged No. 34 means Toronto’s top line could once again be one of the most dangerous in the league. Quick Hit One: Could the Maple Leafs Goalies Be Vezina-Caliber? The Maple Leafs didn’t have a goaltending problem last year—they had a goaltender health problem. Anthony Stolarz was lights out when available, posting a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV% in 34 games. Had he played a full season, he’d have been a serious Vezina contender. If Stolarz can stay healthy and Joseph Woll continues to progress, Toronto’s goaltending duo could be one of the best in the NHL. Quick Hit Three: Will Less Noise in Toronto Bring More Focus? With Marner gone, the daily off-ice circus surrounding his contract and future is over. Fair or not, his presence was a season-long distraction. Now, the remaining members of the Maple Leafs’ Core Four—Matthews, Nylander, and Tavares—are locked in, and the dressing room can shift its focus entirely to winning. Throw in rising talents like Matthew Knies and the addition of skilled winger Matias Maccelli, and there’s real potential for a more balanced, less drama-filled group. The Bottom Line for the Maple Leafs The Maple Leafs still need to prove it in the playoffs. But the noise is quieter, the roster is deeper, and the stars are healthy. If that continues, the 2025–26 season could be the one where this team finally takes the next step.
Three potential landing spots for disgruntled Bills RB James Cook
Superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys aren't the only ones involved in a contract dispute. Buffalo Bills star running back James Cook is seeking a pay raise as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract. When asked Sunday why he wasn't practicing, Cook responded: "Business." ESPN insider Adam Schefter noted on Monday the hold-in by Cook, the 2022 second-round pick (63rd overall) who is unhappy with his contract situation. For now, Cook's future with the Bills is in question, so let's look at three teams that should be lighting up general manager Brandon Beane's phone in an attempt to pry him from Buffalo. Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles must continue to add weapons around second-year QB Caleb Williams. Per NFL.com, Chicago ranked 25th in the league in rushing yards (102 per game) and 29th in yards per carry (four) last season, which is not good enough to support a young QB. RB D'Andre Swift (253 carries, 959 yards rushing, 3.8 yards per carry) is a solid option but was inefficient last season in the workhorse role. Cook, who rushed for 1,009 yards last season (4.9 per carry), is an efficient runner who could balance this offense. Chicago has the draft capital and salary-cap space (roughly $13M, per Over The Cap) to get a deal done, particularly if it were to send Swift back the other way. Arizona Cardinals Their offense could reach new heights with a dynamic running back like Cook. James Conner, who rushed for a career-high 1,094 yards last season, has been a solid lead runner in Arizona over the past four years, but the 30-year-old could use help. Conner is a power back. Speedster Cook would bring a different style and create an explosive one-two punch with QB Kyler Murray. Per Over The Cap, Arizona has roughly $35M in cap space and all its own draft picks to get a deal done. It's a move it must consider to compete in the loaded NFC West. Minnesota Vikings What better way is there to aid rookie QB J.J. McCarthy than by trading for a high-end running back? Minnesota has perhaps the best receiving groups in the NFL, so improving the run game could make this offense unstoppable. Running back Aaron Jones will turn 31 on Dec. 2, so Cook — who will turn 26 on Sept. 25 — would be an upgrade. Free-agent RB Dalvin Cook, who has a similar running style to James, his brother, rushed for 1,173 yards with the Vikings in 2022. The Vikings have draft picks to make a solid offer, and while their cap space will get tight in 2026, they can find ways to wiggle their way around it. Perhaps Buffalo would be interested in Jones being a part of the deal to help its backfield in the short term.
Bengals' Major Concern at Training Camp Could Be Bad News for Joe Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals' offensive line was atrocious last season, yet miraculously, prized quarterback Joe Burrow remained healthy for the entire season. But that didn't come without his share of bumps and bruises. The star signal-caller was sacked 48 times last year, the 11th-most in the league tying the New York Giants. Obviously the hope is for the Bengals' O-line to improve heading into the new year, but the front office did little in bringing in reinforcements. The bulk of Cincinnati's free agency spending went to re-signing Burrow's elite receiver weapons Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. With their first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cincy picked defensive end Shemar Stewart - who just recently ended a messy rookie hold-in at training camp. The Bengals drafted Georgia prospect Dylan Fairchild in Round 3 and Miami tackle Jalen Rivers in Round 5, but numerous injuries at camp continue to grow the uncertainty of Burrow's protection. They open the gates for a starting lineup that may feature multiple youngsters. Lucas Patrick and Amarias Mims, two projected veteran starters, have dealt with injuries so far at camp, leading Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic to constitute this area as a major concern. "On top of concern regarding rookie third-round pick Dylan Fairchild, currently the leader in the clubhouse to start at left guard, the cast of question marks lacking experience, floating behind the starting tackles, is startling," Dehner wrote. "If the Bengals had to play Cleveland this Sunday without Mims, they couldn’t tell you who would hold down the starting spot." Contrastingly, the defensive line has looked solid with Stewart on the edge, even without star companion Trey Hendrickson, who is continuing a hold-in as well during contract negotiations. "Meanwhile," Dehner continued. "The Bengals’ defensive line consistently produced disruptive reps, and they are a group lacking historically potent pass rushers in their own right. ... The Bengals just feel notably weak and inexperienced. When the rest of the offense is so stacked with talent, and the history of the performance in front of Burrow being what it is, that’s hard to look past right now." Burrow has been prone to injuries throughout his five-year NFL career, but his organization isn't currently setting him up for success in that regard with such inexperienced offensive line depth. Bad luck with injuries has played a part there, too, unfortunately. Just over a month away from the first game of the regular season, all eyes will be on the Bengals' offensive line at training camp as they do the best they can to guard last year's leading passer. If not? He risks facing another full season of pocket pressure, which would make it harder to put up the numbers he did last year (which were the best in the league) and win games (something we didn't see as much of). Pro Football Focus ranked the Bengals’ O-line third-worst in the NFL last season after finishing sixth-worst in pass-blocking efficiency. Ahead of the 2025 season, PFF ranked Cincy's offensive line second-worst in the league.
Stephen Curry makes candid admission about his money
Stephen Curry has done a lot of winning on the court, and that usually translates to big numbers off it as well. On top of being the greatest shooter in NBA history, No. 30 has built a strong investment and endorsement portfolio. Nevertheless, he's not too worried about the numbers. In a recent interview with Complex, he shrugged when asked whether his reported net worth of $240 million was accurate. ″[Net worth] is not something I really worry about too much. I have somebody that takes care of that for me,” Curry said. Instead, the four-time NBA champion is looking to build value and put together a portfolio that transcends his financial aspirations. “The idea of what I have going on is about creating a portfolio of stuff that is aspirational in terms of wealth,” Curry explained. “But me and my wife, we hate talking about legacy, like, that’s self-serving. You want to have something you look back on and are proud of, knowing we’ve been blessed with so many opportunities and so many resources and so many relationships.” Curry's deal with Under Armour reportedly pockets him around $20 million a year. He's also about to make north of $62 million in the final year of his four-year, $215 million extension with the Golden State Warriors. He also has endorsement deals with Brita, Degree deodorant, Muscle Milk, JBL, Zamst, Rakuten, Palm, Nissan and Chase Bank. He's made more money than he can ever spend, so it's all about building value right now, not just wealth.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
