What The Beatles can tell us about Michigan hockey
For every player on the Michigan men's hockey team, here's a Beatles song that characterizes their upcoming season.
Some might think The Beatles weren’t writing songs about the 2023-24 Michigan hockey team back in the ‘60s. But they’d be wrong.
OK, clearly that’s a lie, but regular preview content is boring. So instead of giving you a blow-by-blow analysis of every Wolverine this season, I wanted to do something more creative. So using my Beatles knowledge crafted over a long fandom since middle school, I picked one song from their catalog to describe the upcoming season for each player. I also included the album in case you want to make a playlist (highly recommend).
From Yesterday to Revolution, let’s get into it:
FORWARDS
Frank Nazar III — “Get Back,” Let it Be
For Nazar, this season is already a get-right. An offseason injury put him out of commission until February last season, so he didn’t get a whole lot of time to acclimate to college hockey. The results show his struggles: a pedestrian seven points while he played a third-line, defensive role.
“Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged”
— The Beatles about Frank Nazar III, probably
Now at full health, Michigan coach Brandon Naurato has repeatedly stressed that Nazar could have a season on par with what Adam Fantilli did last season. He’s a gifted skater, a two-way bellcow, and last season’s performance didn’t show a fraction of how well the Chicago first-round pick can score. Nazar reminded everyone of that with his four goals against Sweden at the World Junior Summer Showcase in July. This season is about Nazar claiming the type of dominance he was supposed to reach last season — to quite literally get back to where he belongs.
Rutger McGroarty — “Hey Bulldog,” Yellow Submarine
Bulldog might be the most accurate way to describe what makes Rutger McGroarty such an effective hockey player. To the benefit of his linemates, he digs his nose into the hard areas of the ice — corners, net-fronts and other varied logjams. No one would mistake him for a pushover. As such, he’s a popular linemate and beloved by his team.
That type of hockey will serve him well at the next level, where space and clean opportunities are premium. As he takes another year in Ann Arbor to develop, expect him to keep leveraging his physical brand and claim an even larger role for the Wolverines this season.
Gavin Brindley — “A Hard Day’s Night,” A Hard Day’s Night
One look at Brindley’s busy offseason makes me need a nap. He had the NHL Draft in Nashville, a brief trip home to Florida, Blue Jackets development camp in Columbus. Hopefully he can plan a vacation of sorts with all those frequent flyer miles.
Brindley isn’t a stranger to hard work, though, with a high motor that carried his draft stock. After sparking his scoring for the second half of last season, Brindley’s hard work could continue to pay off this season as he takes on an even greater role with so many peers having left the program. And as a second-round pick who expected to go far sooner, Brindley can pair hard work with a chip on his shoulder for maximum results.
Dylan Duke — “Can’t Buy Me Love,” A Hard Day's Night
Duke and Mackie Samoskevich represented one of hockey’s best on-ice bromances for the previous two years. They were linemates for a year and a half, racking up countless goals as Samoskevich fired his NHL-ready shot and Duke raised hell at the net. But Samoskevich’s aforementioned shot earned him his entry-level NHL contract with the Panthers, and Duke is continuing his NCAA career.
This season raises a question that Duke hasn’t had to answer often — how does his style complement other linemates? He’s a lone wolf of sorts trying to find a home, which is both a blessing and a curse with so much talent on his team. While his style of play makes him a beloved linemate, just who he plays alongside could take some experimentation.
TJ Hughes — “Revolution,” The Beatles (White Album)
Few would’ve expected Hughes to center the second line last season, but Nazar’s delayed start allowed Hughes to get an opportunity to run with. The name of the game this season, though, is diversifying his role. Hughes was a talented playmaker for Samoskevich and Duke, but his defense wasn’t always stellar. As one of the best UDFAs still in college, Hughes will have lots of eyes on him this season, so putting in a far better two-way performance could really boost his value to NHL teams.
Nick Moldenhauer — “Twist and Shout,” Please Please Me
The moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived — Brandon Naurato’s first recruit is on campus. A highly regarded ‘04 who can play center and right wing, Moldenhauer should get top six playing time this season. His transition should be aided by the coaching add of Matt Deschamps, a Chicago Steel assistant last season who didn’t coach Moldenhauer’s forward group directly, but offers a friendly face nonetheless. And much like Please Please Me, Moldenhauer will make the debut to what should be an exciting college career this fall.
Jackson Hallum — “With a Little Help From my Friends,” Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Last season, one play repeated itself to a frustrating extreme. Hallum would sprint with the puck up the wing, find plenty of open space, but would either roof the puck or miss the net as his teammates lagged behind the play. Whereas Nazar’s speed is used situationally, Hallum goes full throttle quite often. If he can slow down, just a little bit, and involve his linemates, good things will come from it. He also has the potential to play on an All-Minnesota line should he partner with Josh Eernisse and Garrett Schifsky. With a little help from his friends, Hallum could be on the precipice of a breakout.
Garrett Schifksy — “Don’t Pass Me By,” The Beatles (The White Album)
All eyes are on Moldenhauer to be an impact freshman, but Schifsky isn’t a slouch either. He showed his hands with a goal in the exhibition game on Saturday, and he can kill penalties. Don’t sleep on Schifsky.
Josh Eernisse — “Hello, Goodbye,” Magical Mystery Tour
Eernisse didn’t have much time to settle in at St. Thomas last season before he transferred to Michigan. He’s the type of player on and off the ice that programs covet — look no further than the way his old assistant coach threw literal punches over his transfer. As Eernisse acclimates once again for the second time, look for Eernisse to bring valuable depth scoring to the bottom six.
Philippe Lapointe — “Every Little Thing,” Beatles for Sale
Lapointe earned a well-deserved alternate captain role this season after being a depth piece for most of his career. He’s a dedicated student and philanthropist, and he’s the kind of culture guy who Naurato should want his players to imitate.
Kienan Draper — “Getting Better,” Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Draper didn’t get onto the ice much last season, but his tight forechecking is a real asset. If he can carve a niche in a penalty-kill, defensive role, he might be able to earn some more playing time. Draper has an uphill climb to get in the lineup this season with all the names ahead of him, but he still has an opportunity to put in work behind the scenes that will pay off in future years.
Mark Estapa — “Let it Be,” Let it Be
Estapa led the nation for a while last season with 87 PIMs. Then Naurato benched him in early February, and Estapa took only one more penalty the rest of the season. He has reservoirs of untapped talent at his disposal, but he willingly plays an aggressive archetype to create space for his teammates. If Estapa wants to break through this season, it really comes down to staying out of the penalty box. That starts with not punching people for every transgression. Sometimes, Estapa just needs to let it be.
“Let it be! Let it be! Let it beeee! LET IT BE!”
— Michigan coaches when Estapa goes feral
Tanner Rowe — “Ticket to Ride,” Help!
Naurato recruited Rowe to kill penalties and play defense, two skills that last year’s forward corps didn’t always benefit from. He projects to be a long-term bottom six role player who could blossom with skill development. For now, it’s all aboard the Michigan Express.
Chase Pletzke — “Octopus’s Garden,” Abbey Road
Alright, this song is of loose relation, but there aren’t many Beatles songs that capture the complexity of Pletzke’s situation. He’s a speedy forward who Naurato knows from his days at TPH Detroit (Red Wings, octopus — see, it makes sense!). But last season in 20 games, Pletzke didn’t even register a secondary assist. Don’t equate points with performance, but Pletzke has much that I’m sure he wants to correct this season. Under a coach who he really trusts, maybe he can make the most of his grad year.
DEFENSE
Seamus Casey — “Fixing a Hole,” Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
In the absence of Luke Hughes, Casey has been all but crowned as his replacement from a scoring standpoint. The younger Devils prospect had a hot start to last season, and he turned heads in the exhibition against Simon Fraser. Building more consistency throughout the season could help Casey put together a better campaign, which is something that an injury derailed last season. He’s arguably the most skilled defenseman on the blue line, and he should play a major role.
Jacob Truscott — “Come Together,” Abbey Road
Every captain wants to unite their roster, but that’s even more important with 10 new faces running around the rink. Truscott is tasked to bring together both the old and new members of this Michigan team, aided by an all-new crop of alternate captains. Every player is coming from different backgrounds and experiences, so being a uniting captain matters more than ever.
Truscott surely has a big responsibility there, but his mix of humility and talent has endeared teammates since he stepped foot on (a remarkably different) campus during the COVID year. But Truscott’s biggest task is living up to the C on his sweater. Something tells me he’ll do just fine.
Marshall Warren — “Paperback Writer,” Revolver
Warren could’ve signed pro deals after a successful four-year career at Boston College. But betting on himself, he came to Michigan on a mission to develop his offensive game and attract better offers. It’s a gambit that could very well pay off depending on the chapter he writes in his fifth year. If it’s anything like the first four, he should be a dependable part of the Wolverines’ blue line.
Ethan Edwards — “Carry That Weight,” Abbey Road
Casey might seem the heir apparent to Luke Hughes, but he won’t singlehandedly replace all of his production. That’s where Edwards comes in, building off a sophomore season that saw him play an ever-increasing role on the team.
There’s one problem, though: Edwards is injured to start the first half. He could return come January, but for now the Wolverines have to manage heavier workloads without him. Because as soon as he’s back, expect Edwards to be a lead ox.
“Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time”
Tyler Duke, “Back in the USSR,” The Beatles (The White Album)
Alright, I’m not saying that Michigan is Soviet Russia. What I am saying is that Tyler Duke seized an opportunity to join his big brother on one of the best college hockey teams in the country, as well as play alongside a close friend in Casey. Tyler Duke will get a chance to use his bold and brash playstyle to help Michigan win, but the intangibles of his transfer also make him one lucky guy.
Luca Fantilli — “Across the Universe,” Let it Be
Since Adam Fantilli left the GTHL to play prep hockey in New Hampshire, Luca Fantilli has been in lockstep with his younger brother’s moves. But after Adam signed in the NHL, Luca is all alone with the Wolverines. As much as I’m sure he’d love to play one more run with his little brother, Luca now has the chance to carve his own legacy. His ability to initiate breakouts with his passing could be of use.
Steven Holtz — “A Day in the Life,” Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Few can appreciate just how much Holtz has gone through. He came back from a life-threatening illness last November to end up playing for Michigan by February. He’s also an engineering student who values his education on top of being a student-athlete. Holtz deserves unlimited props for his comeback, because few could even fathom being in his shoes.
Josh Orrico — “The Long and Winding Road,” Let it Be
As a walk-on freshman coming out of the NAHL, Orrico is deep on the Michigan depth charts. He’s more of a long-term development project, but his college hockey journey is just beginning.
Brendan Miles — “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” The Beatles, (The White Album)
A common theme in this group of entries is the lack of playing time they received last season. Miles was low on the depth chart last season but ended up getting into some games as the extra skater when injuries opened multiple spots. He probably won’t play a ton this season, but life goes on, and he still has an opportunity to make an impact, namely with his passing. Teams win on depth as much as talent, and Miles can raise the floor of the Wolverines’ abilities by buying in.
GOALTENDING
Jacob Barczewski — “Don’t Let Me Down”
Michigan’s weakness lies in its goaltending, especially considering the strength of its other components. Barczewski joined Michigan to compete for the starting gig, and both he and Noah West will get their shots at claiming the job. Barczewski was one of the best goalies in the country in win shares and quality starts, but that came against Atlantic Hockey competition. In a tougher Big Ten, his season is about reaching what’s expected of him.
Noah West — “Love Me Do,” Please Please Me
West has given a lot to this Michigan program since transferring in three seasons ago. He’s only gotten three starts with a 1-1-1 record since then, but his play has been efficient in those outings. He briefly tested the portal and chose to come back to Ann Arbor for his senior year. Barczewski was brought in as a failsafe to the goalie situation, but West is capable of being a starter, too, just as he did for Robert Morris University as a freshman. For all he’s given Michigan, West can hope that he gets his fair chance, too.
Andrew Albano — “Yellow Submarine,” Revolver
This has nothing to do with hockey. Albano mentioned in a Michigan hockey video that he came to Michigan from D-3 Norwich to study robotics, which I’ll assume includes some submarine stuff. Albano is a deep backup, but he is getting a really cool educational opportunity this season. Not to mention, he wasn’t bad as a D-3 backup either.