More than a few Red Wings fans will be cheering for the green and white of Michigan State this upcoming season as two Wings prospects, center Red Savage and goaltender Trey Augustine, will be playing for the Spartans in East Lansing. According to the College Hockey News’s Mike McMahon, Michigan State merits top-10 status in the nation thanks in no small part due to their offseason additions:
8) Michigan State: Look for the Spartans to be one of the most improved teams in the nation, which is an incredible feat for Adam Nightingale and his staff as they enter their second season. Michigan State had a six-win improvement last season and finished .500 (18-18-3). Two of MSU’s top scorers were freshmen (Daniel Russell and Karsen Dorwart), and freshman Matt Basgall was second on the team in points among defensemen.
In the transfer portal, the Spartans added Reed Lebster (UMass), who had 22 points last season, as well as stud Northern Michigan freshman Joey Larson (13 goals, 14 assists). Tampa first-rounder Isaac Howard will bolster the team on defense, and Red Wings draft pick Red Savage arrives from Miami. MSU’s recruiting class is one of the top classes in the nation and is headlined by goaltender Trey Augustine, who was drafted by Detroit in the second round this past summer.
Michigan State also added defensemen Artyom Levshunov, who many project as a top-five pick this summer, and Maxim Strbak, who was just taken in the second round by Buffalo.
