College Hockey Insider by Mike McMahon

McMahon's NHL Draft Top 32

Mike McMahon — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:55:57 GMT

AP Photo

I’ve never published them before, but since 2009, I’ve compiled my own NHL Draft rankings every year.

I’m part of a very deep and highly technical fantasy hockey league (at least that’s how I like to describe it). My wife calls it my “nerd” league. She’s not far off. There are 32 of us from all over the world. Essentially, each owner serves as the general manager of an NHL franchise. We maintain full NHL rosters, AHL rosters, and prospect pools. Players are rated based on their NHL performance, and games are simulated using simulation software.

There’s a salary cap, free agency, waivers, and trading.

Yeah, my wife is right ... you could call it “nerdy.” But it’s also a lot of fun.

Every year, we hold our draft the week before the NHL Draft, ensuring that no one can simply rely on where a player was selected by an NHL team.

The league was founded in 2005, and I joined in 2009. I’ve won the championship twice and last week just fell in Game 7 of the finals while attempting to capture what would have been a league-record third title.

Unsurprisingly, my roster tends to be heavy on college players. I frequently target NCAA talent, especially in the third through seventh rounds.

Players currently on my roster who were drafted directly out of college programs (and not acquired via trade or free agency) include Adam Gaudette (Northeastern), Will Smith (Boston College), Johnathan Kovacevic (Merrimack), Ryan Shea (Northeastern), Cam York (Michigan), Alex Vlasic (Boston University), Brock Faber (Minnesota), and Stephen Halliday (Ohio State).

There’s even more NCAA representation on my AHL roster: Lucas Mercuri (UMass), Trevor Kuntar (Boston College), Andre Gasseau (Boston College), Luke Tuch (Boston University), Cole Knuble (Notre Dame), and Jacob Fowler (Boston College). Are you starting to see a trend?

Because I’m part of this ultra-competitive (and definitely not nerdy) league, I’ve always created my own draft rankings. I’ve just never felt comfortable publishing them. Many of the people in this league follow my work, and I had no interest in giving them a leg up by revealing who I was targeting.

This year, however, I don’t own a first-round pick. In fact, I won’t make a selection until the third round. So, for the first time ever, I’m going to publish my NHL Draft rankings — my Top 32 prospects.

I have 18 current or committed NCAA players projected among my Top 32 selections. If that projection comes anywhere close to reality, it would shatter the previous record. The all-time mark for NCAA players selected in the first round is 11, set in both 2007 and 2016 (with 10 selected last year).

These rankings are MY rankings. I know size isn’t everything, but I skew in that direction (especially on defense). I tend to value forwards more than defensemen at the top of the draft. Since the end of the college hockey season, I’ve spent a lot of time on InStat while watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That’s proved invaluable in coming up with these rankings.

Fun with trades …

I spent some of my Saturday morning going back through the trade archive to pick out some fun ones.

I have the Senators in this league.

3/3/11: Chicago Blackhawks trade Roman Hamrlik to Ottawa Senators for Jay Pandolfo, Matt Hunwick, Viktor Tikhonov and OTT 2012 Rnd 8

This might be the only trade I have in this league that involves a current NCAA head coach.

11/21/10: Ottawa Senators trade Corey Perry and Jed Ortmeyer to Buffalo Sabres for Cameron Atkinson, Colby Cohen, Daniel Briere and STL 2012 Rnd 2

Cam Atkinson was part of a team that eventually won me my first championship in this league, so this wasn’t all bad. But looking back, trading 26-year-old Corey Perry probably wasn’t my best move.

9/7/09: Ottawa Senators trade Henrik Zetterberg to Washington Capitals for Jordan Eberle, Mikkel Boedker and Tyler Ennis

This one felt like a good deal at the time … I’d say it did not age well.

Mailbag: What has been the biggest "big picture" takeaway from the first year of the CHL rule change?

Mike McMahon — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:29:50 GMT

Gavin McKenna skates for Team Canada at the World Juniors (AP Photo)

It’s time for another Mailbag Edition of the College Hockey Insider Newsletter.

Among the topics and questions in today’s edition:

After one full season of CHL players in the NCAA, what has been the biggest impact? And looking beyond college hockey, what long-term effects could this have on the broader hockey landscape?
Could there be any additional Division I head coaching openings before the start of the season?
If I were making the decision at Harvard, who would be my choice for the program’s next head coach?
Will Cam Reid play NCAA hockey next season? If so, which programs appear to be the most likely landing spots?
Could a proposed NCAA rule change effectively close the door on AHL and ECHL players moving into college hockey?
Would the proposed five-year eligibility rule also apply at the Division III level?
What should we make of Quinnipiac goaltenders entering the transfer portal after strong seasons?
How does the NCAA transfer portal actually work behind the scenes? Who has access to it, who manages it, and what does the process look like from a software standpoint?
What do Hockey East coaches think of the current setup, and would they prefer to see any changes?

Also in today's issue: Wisconsin has hired Nick Peruzzi, creating a vacancy on UConn's staff. ... St. Cloud State is still working to round out its coaching staff. Who are the names to watch there? ... Minnesota State moved quickly to fill its opening, adding a former U.S. NTDP assistant coach. ... Harvard's on-campus interviews are complete. What comes next, and when could a decision be made? ... Plus, updates on Landon DuPont and Carter Meyer, and much more.

This is issue #685 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

Thanks for reading and being part of this community — your support truly means everything. Whether you’ve been here from the start or just joined us, we’re grateful to have you along for the ride.

If you have ideas for a future newsletter, tips to pass along, or questions for a mailbag, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me anytime at mike@collegehockeyinsider.com. Sponsorship inquiries are also welcome.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

Mailbag: What has been the biggest “big picture” takeaway from the first year of the CHL rule change?

Q. Now that you have seen the impact of CHL players for a year, what do you believe the biggest impact will be on the sport of hockey, not just college hockey. Is there a big picture thing that we need to pay attention to?

Absolutely.

My biggest takeaway is that fewer Americans will be playing Division I college hockey in the years ahead.

Last season, 908 Division I players were from the United States (55.8 percent), while 628 were from Canada (38.5 percent). That gap is going to shrink over time, and it would not surprise me if Canada eventually surpasses the United States in total representation.

Compared to 2024-25, the percentage of U.S.-born players declined by six percent, while the percentage of Canadian-born players increased by six percent. That’s not really open to debate; the numbers are the numbers (see below).

Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is a separate discussion. My point is simply that it appears to be the natural outcome of a recruiting landscape increasingly centered around four leagues: the CHL and the USHL.

Just look at the math.

2026 Transfer Portal: Breaking down the numbers

Mike McMahon — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:15:14 GMT

Defenseman Evan Murr (committed to Minnesota) was the top player in this year’s transfer portal per my rankings (Photo: Minnesota State)

The bulk of the transfer portal activity was concentrated into just a few weeks this season, thanks to the NCAA shortening the entry window and most players committing within days of entering.

So while the portal isn’t technically finished for this cycle — there will still be additional commitments, and Harvard players have until a new head coach is announced to enter the portal — there likely won’t be many, if any, major moves that significantly alter the numbers we track each year.

Today’s newsletter breaks down the portal data from the 2026 cycle, including several notes on recent commitments and late additions to the portal.

Also in today’s edition: More on recent assistant coaching hires at Colorado College and Yale, the United States Collegiate Selects have finalized their schedule for December’s Spengler Cup, and I have a small note on the connection between Jason Lammers and Harvard.

This is issue #684 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

2026 Transfer Portal: Breaking down the numbers

It’s been a few weeks since I updated the data on this year’s transfer portal. Here are the numbers:

Total Entries

Total Entries (not incl. 5th years): 341
Forwards: 173
Defensemen: 119
Goaltenders: 49

Entries by Class

3 YOE Remaining: 114 entries (33.4% of entries)
2 YOE Remaining 124 entries (36.4% of entries)
1 YOE Remaining 72 entries (21.1% of entries)
5th Years: 18 (5.3% of entries)

Commitments

Overall: 61.3% of players have committed
D-I Commitments: 56.6% of players have committed to D-I schools
D-I: 193
D-III: 5
USport: 2
ACHA: 6

Diving deeper into Harvard’s candidates

Mike McMahon — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:55:48 GMT

Niagara coach Jason Lammers interviewed for the Harvard job (Photo: Niagara athletics)

You can add another name to the list of interviewees at Harvard. Niagara coach Jason Lammers has been interviewed, per sources. In today’s newsletter, I take a deeper dive into the candidates at Harvard, including who I’d peg as my top target.

Also in today’s newsletter: Notes on how the NCAA baseball playoffs compared to NCAA hockey on ESPN. ... Tommy Bleyl will enroll at Michigan State in 2027. ... Who is still in the mix for Landon DuPont? ... Boston College is making some facility upgrades. ... A former Merrimack forward is a new head coach in the OHL.

This is issue #683 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

Diving deeper into Harvard’s candidates

I reported on Harvard’s opening last week, noting that the Crimson interviewed former Boston Bruins assistant Jay Leach, Mike Ayers (Boston College), Jared DeMichiel (Michigan State), and Rob Rassey (Michigan). The New England Hockey Journal also reported that Juliano Pagliero (Penn State) and Jason Tapp (Dartmouth) interviewed.

You can add Niagara head coach Jason Lammers to that list as well. Lammers has a direct connection with Harvard Athletic Director Erin McDermott — they were together at Princeton about 20 years ago.

I didn’t go too deep into the candidates last week. If you’ve read my stuff for a while, you know that I don’t believe all head coach openings are created equal, largely because every program presents a different reality. I strongly believe that when hiring a coach, athletic directors need to target the best specific fit for their program. Identifying a candidate who has not only tasted success, but has achieved it at schools with a similar profile, should be the top priority.

In Harvard’s case, that means a candidate who has shown the ability to win at another Ivy League school or, at the very least, an institution with high academic standards.

At this point, I’m told Harvard is moving towards wrapping up its search. With the exception of Jay Leach, who was a candidate but took the Hartford Wolfpack (AHL) job last week, I wouldn’t say anyone is out just yet.

Let’s quickly run through the field.

Breaking: NCAA accepts the hockey counterproposal on age-based eligibility

Mike McMahon — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:07:41 GMT

Sorry for the quick update (at my son’s middle school graduation as this is breaking).

The NCAA D1 Cabinet met and further discussed the hockey model today.

Sources say the NCAA will adopt hockey’s proposed model, where the eligibility clock begins the season following an athlete’s 19th birthday or college enrollment, removing HS graduation.

This seemed dead a week ago. The hockey proposal received support from basketball, soccer, and the service academies.

This is a huge won college hockey commissioners, who spearheaded the counterproposal.

From a memo sent to schools this evening:

Age-Based Collegiate Eligibility Model. The NCAA Division I Cabinet discussed the age-based collegiate eligibility model and stakeholder feedback, including clarifying applications associated with implementing the model.
The cabinet continued to discuss stakeholder feedback from men’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and the U.S. national service academies recommending an adjustment to the age-based collegiate eligibility model. The cabinet supported adjusting the model to remove a student-athlete’s actual or expected high school graduation as a criterion for the start of the five-year period of eligibility. In supporting this adjustment, the cabinet noted that a student-athlete’s five-year period of eligibility would start either upon initial full-time enrollment at any collegiate institution or at the start of the academic year immediately following the student-athlete’s 19^th birthday, whichever occurs first. An updated implementation document will be distributed to the membership during the week of June 8.

Harvard narrowing its coaching search

Mike McMahon — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:50:46 GMT

Harvard is getting closer to naming its next head coach. Final interviews appear to be underway, and an announcement is expected within the next week or two.

In today’s newsletter, I break down several candidates known to have interviewed for the position, including a former Boston Bruins assistant coach who remains firmly in the mix.

Also in today’s edition: What was behind the buzz linking David Carle to the Toronto Maple Leafs last weekend? Plus, updates on several assistant coaching openings around college hockey, the USHL’s plans for western expansion, new rumblings surrounding the CHL and potential U.S. expansion, Lindenwood’s recent meeting with the CCHA, and more.

This is issue #682 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

Harvard narrowing its search, former Bruins assistant Jay Leach in the final mix

If you haven’t downloaded the Substack app yet, consider this your semi-regular reminder to do so.

Between full newsletter editions, I’ll continue sharing quick notes, reporting nuggets, and updates in our subscriber-only chat. The chat is accessible on the web, but the mobile app allows you to receive push notifications so you never miss a scoop.

Rest assured, I won’t be flooding the feed or blowing up your phone throughout the day. It’s simply a convenient way to keep the conversation going between newsletters and provides subscribers with a direct line to me.

Yesterday in the chat, I shared several updates as Harvard’s coaching search enters its final stages. An official announcement could come within the next week or two.

I’ve confirmed that Harvard interviewed Mike Ayers (Boston College), Jared DeMichiel (Michigan State), and Rob Rassey (Michigan). The New England Hockey Journal also reported that Juliano Pagliero (Penn State) and Jason Tapp (Dartmouth) remain in the mix.

Bipartisan bill aimed at regulated college sports was introduced in the U.S. Senate

Mike McMahon — Wed, 27 May 2026 22:41:53 GMT

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) announced a bipartisan bill aimed at regulating college sports (Photo: AP)

In today’s edition of College Hockey Insider:

The NCAA received encouraging news from the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, as Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell announced a bipartisan bill aimed at restoring some guardrails to college sports. The legislation includes transfer restrictions, codifies age-based eligibility, and incorporates several components of the House settlement.

Plus: Anthony Walsh is expected to join Kyle Wallack on Jeff Hamilton’s staff at Yale, new numbers on which programs spend the most on hockey operations, a small update on Harvard’s coaching search, and a unique jersey patch partnership for Air Force.

This is issue #681 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

Bipartisan bill aimed at regulated college sports was introduced in the U.S. Senate

In the midst of the NCAA rejecting hockey’s counterproposal for implementation of the age-based eligibility model, it appears the NCAA may be moving closer to securing the congressional support it needs to enforce some of its rules.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) announced an agreement on a bipartisan bill that would codify several NCAA rules into federal law. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) also signed on as co-sponsors.

The legislation has been named the Protect College Sports Act. It follows months of negotiations between Cruz and Cantwell, who at one point appeared far apart on several key issues.

If the bill passes both houses of Congress, the NCAA would receive limited antitrust protection.

The legislation contains several major components, but here are some of the most significant potential impacts on college athletics:

NCAA rejects hockey's age-based counterproposal

Mike McMahon — Wed, 27 May 2026 16:18:58 GMT

Photo: NCAA

In today’s edition of College Hockey Insider:

The NCAA formally — or at least informally — rejected hockey’s counterproposal to the age-based eligibility model. What does that mean? What comes next? Who will this impact, and how?

Plus: Kyle Wallack is returning to Yale as an assistant coach, Luke Strand signed a contract extension at Minnesota State, UMass has a new goaltending coach, Arizona State officially hires a new assistant, and could rumors surrounding the Colorado Avalanche eventually spill into the college hockey world?

This is issue #680 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

NCAA rejects hockey’s age-based counterproposal

In a phone call yesterday with Division I coaches, NCAA officials confirmed they intend to move forward with the organization’s age-based enrollment proposal, informally rejecting the counterproposal the sport of hockey unified behind last week.

The Division I Cabinet met Friday (May 22) to discuss feedback on the proposal. Under the NCAA’s model, athletes in all sports would receive five years of eligibility beginning with the season following either their expected high school graduation or their 19th birthday — whichever comes first.

“Expected high school graduation” is being defined as four years after freshman enrollment in high school. In practical terms, that means repeating a grade in high school would eat into a player’s five-year eligibility clock.

The NCAA proposal would also eliminate redshirt waivers — medical or otherwise — with exceptions only for pregnancy, religious missions, or active-duty military service.

Hockey submitted formal feedback and a counterproposal to the NCAA two weeks ago. While it mirrored much of the NCAA’s framework, hockey’s proposal removed “expected high school graduation” as a trigger point and instead proposed that an athlete’s five-year clock begin with the season following their 19th birthday or initial college enrollment, whichever comes first.

That proposal carried unanimous support across the sport, including backing from the NHL, USA Hockey, the USHL, the CHL, the Hockey Commissioners Association, and the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).

Breaking down the proposed NCAA hockey rule changes for 2026-27

Mike McMahon — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:58:15 GMT

The NCAA ice hockey rules committee has officially released its recommendations for the 2026–27 season.

Several significant rule changes for the men’s game are included in the committee’s proposal. The package now heads to the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Oversight Committee for review, with a meeting scheduled for later this summer to review the proposals and vote on potential implementation.

Here is the breakdown of what is on the table:

Cut-Resistant Equipment Mandated for 2027–28

This mandate will blanket all levels of men’s and women’s ice hockey. Under the proposal, players will be required to wear cut-resistant material protecting their necks, wrists, and ankles starting in the 2027–28 season.

The rules committee plans to meet with equipment manufacturers this summer to iron out implementation details. Meanwhile, D-III programs could receive an exemption, delaying implementation until 2028–29 due to potential budget constraints.

Hockey powerbrokers unanimously push back against NCAA's five-year eligibility proposal

Mike McMahon — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:21:40 GMT

In an unprecedented move, hockey’s power brokers sent a clear message to the NCAA last week regarding its controversial new five-year eligibility proposal.

The Division I Council is set to meet on Friday to sift through the feedback on the docket. As it stands, the NCAA’s plan would hand all athletes five years of eligibility, ticking the clock down from either their expected high school graduation date or their 19th birthday—whichever comes first.

If passed, this rule will send shockwaves through the entire collegiate landscape. But hockey will take the biggest hit. The sport relies on a unique junior hockey ecosystem, a proven model that gives prospects a place to develop until their age-20 season before ever stepping foot on a college campus.

Some players are ready earlier, but the data shows that the vast majority of NCAA hockey players age out of juniors before heading to school.

A massive packet of unified correspondence landed on the NCAA’s desk last week. The pushback included formal feedback from all six college hockey commissioners, the coaches’ association, the NHL, the USHL, the CHL, and USA Hockey.

Here's how this year's NCAA Tournament would have looked under my proposed 24-team, "super regional" alignment

Mike McMahon — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:31:16 GMT

Denver celebrates winning the 2026 national championship (Photo: NCAA)

Last week at the annual American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Florida, there was inevitable discussion about the NCAA Tournament. We had details of what was discussed during the convention — from the tournament to potential rule changes — in a newsletter last week:

The idea of expanding the NCAA Tournament beyond its current 16-team bracket was discussed, and I’m told there are several coaches in favor of expanding. Multiple sources said that the idea of expanding the tournament had more support than the idea of going to on-campus sites for the first two rounds before advancing to a neutral-site Frozen Four.

There are still logistical hurdles to overcome. The NCAA typically has used a benchmark of 25 percent of participating teams qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Division I men’s hockey is already at that benchmark (currently 25.4 percent).

Today’s newsletter looks at my proposed 24-team tournament, and how it would have looked last season.

Also in today’s newsletter:

Future sites for the Frozen Four and Regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament are expected in the coming months, with locations for the 2029, 2030, and 2031 tournaments.
We have some notes on the requirements of NCAA regional hosts.
Stonehill is moving forward with its plans for an on-campus rink.
There were WHL teams who reportedly passed on players who were “too good” because they didn’t want to lose those players at 18 years old to the pros or NCAA.
Gavin McKenna’s mother was charged with furnishing liquor to minors the same night that Gavin McKenna was charged with assault.

This is issue #677 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

Who could be the next Harvard head coach?

Mike McMahon — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:17:38 GMT

Dominic Moore is a Harvard alum who is currently working in TV for the Utah Mammoth

Ted Donato is stepping down as Harvard’s head coach at the end of the academic year, the program announced Thursday afternoon. The Crimson said they will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.

“It is with immense gratitude that I have decided to end my tenure at Harvard as head coach of the Men’s Hockey program,” Donato said. “I am proud and grateful for all the incredible moments, everlasting memories, and relationships from my 27 years connected to the University as a student-athlete, coach, and parent.

“I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such talented and driven student-athletes and staff of the highest character. With the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, I believe it is the right time to pass the torch to the next leader of the Harvard Men’s Hockey program.”

Rumblings about Donato’s departure had been circulating among coaches and agents for nearly two weeks. On April 25, College Hockey Insider first heard that Donato had been in conversations with NHL teams about potential scouting roles.

Despite multiple coaches and agents “hearing” that he was leaving Harvard, they were all second or third-hand accounts, and we couldn’t independently verify the information.

There were other signs. Most notably, assistant coach James Marcou took the open assistant position at UMass. Harvard’s other assistant, Matt Gilroy, is reportedly in the mix for another job as well. Sources in the coaching industry considered it “telling” that Harvard had not moved to replace Marcou. Many believed it validated the growing sense that Donato was on his way out.

Now we know why there wasn’t much movement on replacing Marcou.

It’s possible Harvard began conducting due diligence on potential candidates over the past two weeks, which could mean this hiring process moves quickly. Given where we are on the calendar, that wouldn’t be surprising in the least.

Harvard has a rich list of hockey alumni. Not many have gone into coaching, but several have carved out prominent roles in NHL front offices. Those connections could open the door to some outside-the-box candidates.

Here’s a look at 18 candidates who could be next in line to lead the Crimson:

Here's what was discussed last week at the annual AHCA coaches' convention

Mike McMahon — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:55:35 GMT

College hockey coaches and power brokers met late last week in Bonita Springs, Florida, for the annual American Hockey Coaches Association convention.

Several key topics were discussed, and today’s newsletter is packed with details, including:

— Extensive discussion on how the NCAA’s age-based eligibility proposal will impact the sport, including a meeting with the NCAA’s chief legal officer on the issue.

— The NCAA’s new tampering proposal.

— The future of roster construction in the era of roster caps and age-based eligibility.

— Potential rule changes under consideration, along with a timeline for implementation this offseason.

— Continued debate surrounding NCAA regionals, including another push for home sites, a radical proposal for implementing them, tournament expansion, and the possibility of teams bidding to host.

— Expanding the regular-season schedule and recruiting calendar.

Also in today’s issue:

Is Landon Dupont playing college hockey next season? And is Michigan the frontrunner?
A bunch of coaching news on former NCAA head coaches losing pro jobs, assistant openings/hirings, and more.
UNH athletic Alison Rich is out at the end of the year.
The USHL signed Glenn Hefferan to an extension.
How much does the NCHC make off of NCHC.tv?

This is issue #675 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

The NCAA is trying to push through the five-year eligibility rule next month

Mike McMahon — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:03:51 GMT

Photo: AP

The NCAA could push its five-year eligibility proposal through the legislative process next month by categorizing the change as “emergency legislation.” What would that mean for current and future college hockey players?

Plus, a look inside what some players are being told about a fifth year — and their potential options when it comes to entering the portal.

Also in today’s issue:

The latest from the transfer portal includes the official entry of Maine forward Justin Poirier. Plus, BU added two defensemen, and one of the top offensive defensemen in the portal committed to Lake Superior.
The NCAA is also considering a “legal tampering period” when it comes to the transfer portal.
Michigan coach Brandon Naurato is headed to the World Championships.
A note on a potential candidate for Jeff Hamilton’s staff at Yale.

This is issue #674 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

The NCAA is trying to push through the five-year eligibility rule next month

NCAA president Charlie Baker is pushing for the Division I cabinet to vote on the five-year eligibility rule next month as emergency legislation. If it’s approved, he wants it adopted in June.

But that’s not all.

As part of the emergency legislation, policies regarding professional involvement — both pre- and post-enrollment — are also being reviewed and could be changed.

The proposal appears to have broad support among power brokers in college athletics. The idea of the “five-in-five” model was also included in President Donald Trump’s executive order on college sports released earlier this month.

“I have had a lot of people offer me thoughts about implementation, but I haven’t had anybody say to me that this is a bad idea,” Baker said. “It makes it harder for somebody to show up at the age of 19 or 20 or 21 and claim to be a freshman after playing three years of professional sports somewhere else.”

How the CHL rule change might impact college hockey's recruiting timeline

Mike McMahon — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:24:45 GMT

Everyone understands the impact of last fall’s NCAA rule change regarding CHL players. With players from the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL now eligible to play NCAA hockey, the second wave of former CHL players is set to arrive on campus this fall.

The rule is also reshaping how NCAA programs approach recruiting. In fact, some coaches would like to see the timeline pushed back in an effort to standardize the recruitment of older (i.e. junior-aged) players.

Also in today’s newsletter:

A full recap of today’s transactions in the transfer portal, including four commitments (to Stonehill, Vermont, and Maine) along with Adam Barone’s entry.
Princeton endowed its head coaching position thanks to a donation from a group of alums.
Omaha has re-upped its contract with Learfield.

This is issue #673 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

How the CHL rule change might impact college hockey’s recruiting timeline

There have been plenty of ripple effects from the NCAA’s rule change on CHL players, which was instituted a little more than a year ago.

One area that hasn’t been discussed much yet is how the change might impact the college hockey recruiting calendar.

Programs are now recruiting players further along in their development than they were 18 months ago. In fact, some coaches would like to see changes to the recruiting calendar because of it.

Yale officially hires Jeff Hamilton as its new head coach

Mike McMahon — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:40:54 GMT

Yale officially named Jeff Hamilton as its new head coach on Monday. Today’s newsletter has my reaction to the news, including who else was a candidate, and more.

Also in today’s newsletter:

Full notes on today’s transactions in the transfer portal, including every entry and commitment. Plus, subscribers have a link to my portal tracker.
Who might Alaska Anchorage target as its new head coach? We break down some of the potential candidates.
It’s the time of year for assistant shakeups. We have notes on some expected moves and some potential moves among assistant coaches.
Denver retained a key player for next season.

This is issue #672 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

Yale officially hires Jeff Hamilton as its new head coach

Yale officially named Jeff Hamilton as its new head coach on Monday.

Hamilton is a Yale alum who was backed by several prominent alumni during the interview process. He had a long NHL career and has recently been coaching at the youth level in Connecticut. He’s a former Yale captain and remains the program’s all-time leading scorer.

Hamilton owns the Connecticut Junior Rangers.

“I’m honored and humbled to lead the next era of Yale men’s hockey,” Hamilton said in a release. “Thank you to Vicky [Chun], Danielle Upham, and the athletics administrative team for giving my family and me the opportunity to return to a place that has had such a profound impact on our lives,” said Hamilton.

“Building on the foundation laid by my greatest mentor, Coach Tim Taylor, and on the extraordinary success of the past decades, we will pursue excellence with the highest expectations. My staff and I are committed to elevating the student-athlete experience to the highest standard of recruiting, developing, and championing the very best in college hockey, while providing opportunities that are uniquely Yale.”

10 thoughts on the transfer portal after one week

Mike McMahon — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:37:20 GMT

Alex Cournoyer is headed to Wisconsin (Photo: Cornell)

The transfer portal has been open for almost one week, and there are exactly the same number of entries six days into the window as there were in the entire last cycle (308 players). Of those players, 147 (47.7 percent) have already announced commitments for next season.

Today’s newsletter starts with 10 thoughts on the transfer portal as we approach the halfway point of the entry window. Players have until April 27 to enter the portal. After that, they can only enter if their financial aid is cut or if their program undergoes a head coaching change.

Also in today’s issue:

Yale is getting close to hiring a new head coach, and it appears that alum Jeff Hamilton is the favorite. Where do things stand? Who is running the search? We have some info.
ESPN drew record numbers for the Frozen Four and the national title game last week. Plus, notes on the production elements behind the broadcast, and more.
In our notebook, Elliotte Friedman reports that David Carle turned down $25 million from the Chicago Blackhawks last year, BC flipped a goalie commitment, Yost Ice Arena suffered some storm damage, notes on future Frozen Four sites, college hockey expansion, and more.

This is issue #670 of the College Hockey Insider newsletter.

You can also find me on X at @MikeMcMahonCHN.

10 thoughts on the transfer portal after one week

(1) I wrote about this earlier in the week, but money is playing a bigger role in this portal cycle than any we’ve seen.

Multiple players (at least three that I know of) have told teams they were committed, only to de-commit hours later when a bigger-money offer came along. Multiple coaches told me last week that conversations with players or agents have started with, “Team X is offering $30,000.”

And as you would expect, there are a lot of “backroom deals” happening. But that has always happened. You’re never going to stop that. Several players have committed to a new school within hours of entering the portal.

State of the Game Press Conference

Mike McMahon — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:09:27 GMT

Every year at the Frozen Four, there is a “State of the Game” press conference on Friday, to discuss big-picture issues across college hockey.

This year’s “State of the Game” featured:

Sean Hogan, College Hockey Inc. President
Luke Strand, Minnesota State head coach
Steve Metcalf, Hockey East commissioner
Tim Troville, Harvard associate AD (committee chair)
Trevor Large, Canisius head coach

Tuesday transfer portal thoughts

Mike McMahon — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:02:41 GMT

Austin Burnevik is headed to Minnesota (Photo: Kayden Kircher/SCSU)

The first day of the 2026 transfer portal is finally in the books — and it delivered plenty of chaos.

In total, 273 players have entered the portal, easily the highest number ever recorded on opening day (some of those were pre-entries as grad students or coaching changes). For context, last year’s full cycle produced 308 entries, which itself set a record.

Here’s how the numbers stack up year by year:

2026 (ongoing): 273
2025: 308
2024: 294
2023: 293
2022: 247

I’ll have a more complete breakdown in a later newsletter, but with the pace of movement already this brisk, it felt necessary to get some early thoughts on paper this Tuesday morning.

In the meantime, subscribers can access the full portal tracker, with complete with rankings based on 2025–26 performance and per-60 analytics from InStat (link below the paywall), while the free page continues to update with daily entries and commitments.

A few takeaways from Day 1:

— The early surge is no surprise. This is the first year operating under a shortened transfer window, trimmed to just 15 days. In previous seasons, players had up to 40 days — and in some cases nearly two months — to make a decision. With less time to weigh options, the urgency to enter early has intensified, leading to a front-loaded wave of movement.

Historically, most entries came within the first three to five days. That trend may now be compressed even further.

Monday Morning Portal Update

Mike McMahon — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:54:36 GMT

Without a doubt, this is the wildest first day of the transfer portal in its short history.

It’s 12:47 p.m. as I write this, and we’re already up to 244 entries. Last season, there were 308 total entries.

Some of that is because the window is shorter this year, so more players are jumping in right as it opens. But still, this is as hectic as we’ve ever seen it.

For now, I have Evan Murr as the top player entering the portal. Sources said he’s going to Minnesota. Other top players include Justin Poirier (Maine), Jack Stockfish (Holy Cross), and Ben Muthersbaugh (Union).

Arizona State has not entered any players into the portal as I write this. The compliance departments at the individual schools are actually the ones who enter players into the portal. However, I’m told there will be several Sun Devils entering, including Cullen Potter (who is headed to Michigan State), Brasen Boser, and Sam Court.

If you want to follow along with the entries and commitments (and you aren’t a paid newsletter subscriber), my free tracker page is here:

However, paid newsletter subscribers get access to my full tracker sheet, which I am trying to stay on top of today, but entries are coming in faster than I can update the sheet. All of the names are on there, but the stats will be input throughout the day today.

My full tracker sheet ranks players using their in-season stats plus situational analytics (per 60). It also has numbers on total entries, total commits, commit percentage, and more.

Paid newsletter subscribers will have the link below. If you want to sign up to become a paid subscriber, you can also do so by clicking below.

I’m expecting my entire day to be occupied filling up the portal tracker and sheet.