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How Michigan hockey is trying to keep the focus on NCAA tournament while NHL draft looms

Special to Detroit Free Press

If you follow college hockey, then you’ve heard about Michigan’s freshman class.

Long before stepping foot into Yost Ice Arena, they combined to produce one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Each of the new players came with an accomplished resume and NHL draft hype. So far, three of the freshman — forwards Brendan Brisson and Thomas Bordeleau and goaltender Erik Portillo — have been drafted in the first, second and third rounds, respectively.

And, still, the highest picks are likely yet to come. Forwards Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson and defenseman Owen Power aren’t draft-eligible until July, but are projected to be top-10 picks overall.