Owen Power, Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson, three of the top five selections in the 2021 NHL draft, will return to Michigan for the 2021-22 season for their sophomore seasons, the school announced.
Power was the No. 1 overall selection, taken by the Buffalo Sabres in the July draft. The expansion Seattle Kraken made Beniers their first-ever amateur draft selection at No. 2 overall, and the Columbus Blue Jackets chose Johnson with the No. 5 pick.
Michigan was the first college hockey program in draft history to see three teammates selected in the first round.
And they won’t be the only potential future NHL stars on the ice in Ann Arbor, Mich., when the 2021-22 season begins at home Oct. 8 against Lake Superior State.
The Wolverines have four other first-round selections on the roster: incoming freshmen Luke Hughes (No. 4, New Jersey Devils) and Mackie Samoskevich (No. 24, Florida Panthers), junior John Beecher (No. 30 in 2019, Boston Bruins) and sophomore Brendan Brisson (No. 29 in 2020, Vegas Golden Knights). All are forwards.
Power, a defenseman, scored 16 points last season and led the Wolverines in blocked shots with 40. He was named College Hockey News Rookie of the Year.
A forward, Beniers led the Big Ten in on-ice rating last season with +21 and had 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games.
Johnson, another forward, was second on the Wolverines last season in scoring with 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists).
–Field Level Media