Not counting signed commits, MSU has nine open spots remaining on its 26-player roster, excluding designated student-athletes, who do not count against the limit. MSU had 27 players on its 2025-26 roster.

MSU’s biggest departures came through graduation and professional contracts, with eight players signing agreements. The team also lost four players to the transfer portal — two backup goaltenders and two forwards who did not play in more than half of the season.

Departures

MSU lost its entire top line of forwards, which was no surprise. Senior forwards Daniel Russell (11-28--39) and Charlie Stramel (19-25--44) were expected to move on with graduation, and freshman forward Porter Martone had a historical freshman season (25-25--50), prompting his NHL contract and role in the Philadelphia Flyers last month of games.

The team also lost junior goaltender Trey Augustine, MSU’s starter for the past three seasons. His departure was hinted at in coach Adam Nightingale’s final press conference where he said the team would miss Augustine. 

Senior center Tiernan Shoudy also signed a tryout and contract, along with three of the Spartans’ top defenders — sophomore defenseman Colin Ralph, junior defenseman Maxim Štrbák and senior defenseman Matt Basgall. 

Freshman goaltender Melvin Strahl transferred to Minnesota, likely looking for more playing time. Similarly, sophomore forward Nathan Mackie landed at Ferris State, and freshman forward Austin Baker transferred to Miami Ohio. Senior goaltender Dolan Gilbert is still uncommitted.  

Returners

Eight of the returning Spartans will be sophomores next season, which was expected since the youth made up nearly half of the previous roster. 

Freshmen wingers Anthony Romani (14-14--28) and Ryker Lee (15-15--30) are players with potential to step up offensively. They were the team’s biggest producers aside from the first line and have improved throughout the season. 

Romani scored timely goals that helped clinch important games (against Michigan and Penn State) and Lee showed up offensively in the NCAA Tournament. Lee notched a point in each of the Spartans’ last three games. 

Freshman Cayden Lindstrom and sophomore Shane Vansaghi will continue to serve as physical power forwards. Lindstrom spent this last season returning to form after missing his previous season with injuries. Lindstrom’s speed is returning and his defensive has improved, while Vansaghi has grown in stamina.

Junior forwards Gavin O’Connell (6-10--16) and Tommi Männistö (12-9--21) will return multi-year experience at the collegiate level, and their junior season stats were better than their sophomore year. 

Another returning leader is junior defenseman Patrick Geary, a 2025-26 alternate captain. Geary is known for his physicality and emotion, and Nightingale credited him with helping the team remain poised in its 2-1 NCAA Tournament win over UConn. Geary will have a new defensive partner for his senior season after playing alongside Štrbák the past three seasons.

The blue line will also feature sophomore defenseman Owen West and freshmen Sean Barnhill and Matt Lahey — two 6-foot-6 athletes. West brings poise and attention to detail, especially on the penalty kill. He has been paired with Barnhill, who has improved his physicality. Lahey spent half the season recovering from injury but has played in every game since returning.

Freshmen forward Cole Burke and defenseman Cole Ward were scratched most of the season but are staying at MSU. Burke played just two games when other forwards were away for international competition. Ward made the line chart for eight games but lacked ice time.  

Arrivals

Future centers Jimmy Clark (4-12--16) and Cullen Potter (12-14--26) both committed to MSU out of the transfer portal, which will help fill the gap that Shoudy and Stramel have left. Clark (from Minnesota) played under Nightingale with the U.S. National Team Development Program and Potter (from Arizona State) was previously recruited by MSU. 

Along with center depth, MSU wasted no time bringing in another goaltender with Quentin Sigurdson (2.72 GAA, .920 SV%) from Northeastern. MSU has 20 commits, aside from transfers it just brought in — and potentially Canadian Hockey League players that have yet to be recruited. The majority of the Spartans’ commits are not signed to play at MSU next season. 

Defenseman Chase Reid is likely signed as MSU promoted him during the IIHF 2026 World Juniors Championship. Reid ranks fourth in North American prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft and will likely further his development in the NCAA.

Goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen (drafted Round 1, 30th overall to the San Jose Sharks) is committed to MSU and would be ideal for the Spartans as first-round goaltenders are rare. His arrival is expected as MSU has only brought in Sigurdson and has two more goaltender spots. The only other goaltender commit is JJ Salajko. 

Players that are expected to return or arrive at MSU can still choose to sign professional contracts, like Isaac Howard and Tyson Jugnauth did in the summer of 2025, but the chance of MSU losing more players is smaller than it was in the past month.