Weekend Preview: Rev-share talk and huge matchups highlight the weekend

BU-Michigan State, Minnesota-North Dakota, Minnesota State-Wisconsin just some of the huge matchups this weekend

UMass AD Ryan Bamford is one of the few admins or coaches who has been upfront about his program’s NIL/rev-share plans.

Today’s issue (#596) dives headfirst into the hot-button topic of revenue sharing and NIL in college hockey recruiting. A few national outlets — most notably The Athletic — had stories on the topic this week. I still believe coaches downplaying just how much money is reshaping the recruiting landscape.

Let me put it bluntly — what’s being said publicly isn’t matching what I’m hearing privately. The on-the-record quotes sound cautious and diplomatic, and in most cases, downplay the impact its having on recruiting. Conversations I’m having with coaches off the record, or conversations I’m having with agents/advisors, doesn’t mesh with the idea that it’s not a huge driver in recruiting.

Beyond that, I’ve got my weekend picks locked in and I’ll preview my games of the week, including:

• Boston University vs. Michigan State

• Minnesota vs. North Dakota

• Maine vs. Quinnipiac

• Minnesota State vs. Wisconsin

• Canisius vs. Colgate

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