Michigan State Hockey: Adam Nightingale building something special

Michigan State hockey is one step closer to being “back.”

On Monday, the Spartans landed one of the top NHL draft prospects in the world.

According to Nathaniel Bott of Lansing State Journal reported that the Spartans signed defenseman Artyom Levshunov. He played for Green Bay in the UHSL this past season and finished with 42 points.

Bott researched it and he’s been listed as high as No. 3 on 2024 NHL Draft boards.

This was just the latest in a long line of offseason additions for the Spartans. There are officially 15 newcomers for the 2023-24 squad following the Levshunov news and a number of them are NHL draft prospects.

According to MSU’s official page, two players coming in were selected in this year’s draft (Trey Augustine, Maxim Štrbák) and two others were selected in previous drafts (Red Savage in 2021 and Isaac Howard in 2022). You love to see that kind of NHL-level talent coming in.

That’s what’s going to make Michigan State a winner again.

Nightingale is putting Michigan State hockey back in the spotlight

I’ll be the first to admit that since MSU hockey won its national title back in 2007, I haven’t paid much attention to the program seeing as it looked like it was trending in the wrong direction.

Tom Anastos did have a winning record in his first season as head coach after taking over for Rick Comley in 2011-12 but he only had one other winning year before parting ways. Danton Cole never really looked like he fit in.

But Nightingale has taken the reigns and he’s pieced together Michigan State’s first season of at least a .500 winning percentage since 2014-15.

And all he’s doing is building on that momentum by adding some big names to the roster.

Something special is being built in East Lansing and Munn will soon be rocking again like it’s 2007.