Michigan State hockey’s stock is skyrocketing after a huge weekend at the NHL draft and everyone — including ESPN — has documented Adam Nightingale’s dominance.
The Spartans just had a program record nine players selected in this year’s draft which was the most out of any program in the NCAA by a pretty comfortable margin. They also had five players picked in the first round, giving the projected 2026-27 roster nine first-round picks which breaks a record that was previously held by Michigan.
Michigan State put on a show for the entire country to see and Nightingale’s program is now being looked at as a premier destination for elite hockey talent.
Experts were singing Michigan State’s praises all weekend, including ESPN’s hockey crew.
It’s not often you see — or read — ESPN praising anything Michigan State related, but that’s just how good the Spartans’ draft performance was.
ESPN went as far as listing Michigan State and Nightingale as one of the biggest winners from this year’s draft which is usually a title reserved for NHL teams and draftees. Michigan State was listed as a big winner for the simple fact that it churned out five first-rounders and nine picks overall.
Here’s a snippet of what ESPN had to say about one of the draft’s biggest winners, Michigan State:
"Friday might have been one of the biggest days in recent history. The Spartans have five commits -- Chase Reid (7th, SEA), Nikita Klepov (15th, ANA), Ethan Belchetz (17th, UTA), Jack Hextall (30th, CGY) and Tommy Bleyl (31st, NSH) -- go in the first round. This is a team to watch for the title this season in college hockey."ESPN on Michigan State hockey
Along with Michigan State, other winners included the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and New York Rangers.
Michigan State has come a long way in the past 5 years
ESPN alluded to it in their description of Michigan State as a winner in this year’s draft, but the Spartans were at rock-bottom not too long ago. The storied program had fallen on hard times and Nightingale was hired to turn things around.
No one could have anticipated the success that he brought to East Lansing, at least not how quickly he’s done it.
Michigan State went from NCAA hockey bottom-dweller to three-time reigning Big Ten champ and national title contender. The Spartans are going to be in the national championship hunt for as long as Nightingale is in charge and this year’s draft proved that. The nation’s top talent wants to come to East Lansing to play for Nightingale. Who would have thought?
Now it’s time for the football program to follow suit.
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