How good is UND recruit Keaton Verhoeff? One scout says "he's a unicorn" (#575)

Also: Staff updates at RMU, Merrimack, and Quinnipiac, Tennessee State's launch, Howard signs NHL deal, Vermont will opt in, BGSU loses a recruit to the CHL, and more

Photo: WHL

Gavin McKenna (rightfully so) dominated much of the conversation last week. However, the consensus No. 2 prospect in next year's NHL Draft is also playing college hockey next season—and one NHL scout told me that incoming UND defenseman Keaton Verhoeff might be the best right-shot defenseman prospect he’s ever seen.

Also in today’s issue (#575):

– Tennessee State’s program will launch in 2026–27 after efforts from the NHL, NHLPA, and College Hockey Inc. secured its future.

– Isaac Howard signs his entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers following a trade. What’s next for Michigan State?

– Robert Morris tabbed Tri-City head coach Marco Treviño as its new assistant.

– Updates on the open assistant positions at Merrimack and Quinnipiac.

– Add Vermont to the list of teams opting in to the House settlement.

– In a reversal of fortunes this summer, Bowling Green lost a recruit to the CHL.

– Justin Carbonneau has opted against playing college hockey and will return to the QMJHL.

– Keith Fisher made his first staff hire at Lindenwood.

- Our latest podcast episode will be released soon. I have a segment with Hockey Prospect Radio’s Shane Malloy on Gavin McKenna, and I have to finish recording a mailbag segment to go with it for subscribers. So, if you have any last-minute mailbag submissions, get them in today because that episode will drop Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

Make sure you download the Substack app and join our exclusive subscriber chat. I’ve been using this feature more lately. I promise I won’t blow up your phone with constant push notifications, but the chat is a great way for me to keep everyone informed between newsletters.

Before we get to today’s newsletter, I was a guest on The Sheet with Jeff Marek last week, where we discussed Gavin McKenna’s commitment to Penn State and other college hockey topics. You can check out the full episode—which also features NHL agent Anton Thun discussing the new NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement—by using the link below:

If you have ideas for a future newsletter, tips you want to share, mailbag submissions, or if you want to sponsor a future newsletter, please email mike@collegehockeyinsider.com.

I'm also @MikeMcMahonCHN on Twitter.

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