The University of Minnesota is bringing in a loaded freshman class with high draft picks and former captains. How will these players make an impact for the Golden Gophers in the 2026-27 season, and hopefully for them, longer than just next year?
It’s been a few years since the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers won the Big Ten. That led to a coaching change, with Bob Motzko out and Brett Larson in. Larson and his staff have some freshmen coming in this year, with some of them being high NHL draft picks as recently as last season.
All entry years are from CollegeHockeyNews and are subject to change. Players are listed alphabetically by last name.
Brooks Cullen –Center, Fargo Force (USHL)
Cullen will be teaming up with his younger brother Wyatt, who will be the next name after Brooks. A part of a large and successful hockey family, Matt Cullen, Brooks and Wyatt’s dad, was a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Brooks Cullen was with the Fargo Force this season, and in 62 games, he had 23 points.
Wyatt Cullen –Center, US NTDP U18 (USHL)
Cullen was drafted by the Nashville Predators 10th overall in this year’s draft. He had an extremely large growth spurt that sent him from five-foot-eight to six-foot-one. His growth plates are also open to the point where he could become six-foot-three.
He had the highest points-per-game on the NTDP this past year, where in 40 games he had 45 points.
Jacob Kvasnicka –Right Winger, Penticton (Vees WHL)
Kvasnicka also played with the NTDP before bringing his small but speedy playstyle to the WHL, where in his only season there he had 35 goals and 85 points in 65 games. That point total also led the entire team by 11.
He continued this through the playoffs; in 15 games, he had eight goals and 15 points.
Axel Lofgren –Defenseman, Fargo Force (USHL)
Lofgren has something I’ve never seen before; if you look at his EliteProspects page, he has the tag of being a “glue guy”. I don’t know him personally, but that’s something every team needs.
He played with Brooks Cullen in Fargo this year, and in 56 games, the Swede had ten goals and 33 points from the back end.
Jackson Nevers –Right Winger, Madison Capitols (USHL)
Jackson Nevers is the younger brother of former Golden Gophers captain Mason Nevers. Similar to his brother, this past season in Madison, Nevers wore the C on his jersey; he also wore it when he was tearing it up at Edina High.
This past season, he put up 26 points in 54 games.
Alex Sabev –Goalie, Idaho Falls Spud Kings (NCDC)
The Idaho Falls Spud Kings is one of the coolest names in sports, and Sabev was an absolute brick wall for them this year.
He had an 11-3 record and put up a 1.94 goals-against-average and a .917 save-percentage. At six feet, he isn’t the biggest goalie, but he brings athleticism and great in-crease skating.
Tarin Smith –Defenseman, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Tarin Smith shares something with Nevers: they both were captains on their teams last season, and Smith helped lead the Silvertips to a WHL championship season.
Unfortunately for him. He got injured in the playoffs and won’t be able to skate until August, and is trying to get back to full strength by November.
