College hockey’s offseason was busy again. According to Gopher Puck Live’s tracker, 347 Division I men’s players entered the transfer portal this cycle: 177 forwards, 121 defensemen and 49 goalies. Some left for the pros, some dropped to D3, U Sports or the ACHA, and dozens of proven scorers and starting goalies changed D1 jerseys. With the 2026-27 season about a week away, here are the moves that matter most and where they could swing the standings.
Want the full picture? Follow every move on the RallyFuel Transfer Tracker, or go straight to the hockey portal tracker.
Minnesota Went Shopping, and Came Home Loaded
No program worked the portal harder than Minnesota. After a down year, the Gophers brought in impact players at nearly every position.
Austin Burnevik (F) — from St. Cloud State
2025-26: 20G, 18A, 38 PTS in 36 GP · 2024 Anaheim draft pick
Burnevik is one of the most dangerous power-play shooters in the country. His one-timer from the left circle produced seven of St. Cloud’s 30 power-play goals last season, tied for the team lead. He’s also big enough to win battles in front of the net. Minnesota’s power play already converted at 26.5% last year, and adding Burnevik makes it even more of a threat.
Evan Murr (D) — from Minnesota State
2025-26: 10G, 20A, 30 PTS in 40 GP
Murr was CCHA Defenseman of the Year in each of the last two seasons, and he led all league blueliners in conference scoring last year. He has posted exactly 20 assists in three straight seasons. He moves the puck well, jumps into the rush and has blocked 30+ shots in consecutive years. He gives Minnesota a second power-play weapon alongside Burnevik’s shot.
Also headed to Minneapolis: goalie Melvin Strahl (Michigan State, 2023 Columbus pick), defensemen Tanner Henricks (St. Cloud, 2024 Columbus pick) and Finn Loftus (St. Cloud), and forward Christian Humphreys (Michigan).
Wisconsin Reloads Up Front and in the Crease
JJ Wiebusch (F) — from Penn State to Wisconsin
2025-26: 16G, 20A, 36 PTS in 37 GP
Wiebusch helped Penn State reach its first-ever Frozen Four as a freshman. His linemates are now pros, so the Wisconsin native is heading home. He scores the hard way: he wins rebounds, forechecks relentlessly and finds open ice at the back post. That kind of scoring holds up in March.
Alexis Cournoyer (G) — from Cornell
2025-26: 18-10-0, .915 SV%, 2.05 GAA, 1 SO in 28 GP · 2025 Montreal draft pick
The 6-foot-4 sophomore creates a real goalie competition in Madison. Incumbent Daniel Hauser went 21-8-2 with a .900 save percentage and led the Badgers to the national title game. Cournoyer’s numbers were stronger, but Hauser faced a tougher Big Ten schedule. Don’t be surprised if Wisconsin ends up rotating the two.
Penn State’s Answer to a Mass Exodus
Justin Poirier (F) — from Maine
2025-26: 18G, 11A, 29 PTS in 27 GP · 2024 Carolina draft pick (5th round, 156th overall)
Penn State lost Charlie Cerrato, Aiden Fink, Gavin McKenna and Matt DiMarsico to the pros, and Wiebusch left for a Big Ten rival. Poirier is the Nittany Lions’ best bet to replace that scoring. He opened his freshman year with a hat trick against Holy Cross and led Hockey East in goals by late November. He slowed down after the break. At 5-foot-8, he’s small, but his quick release lets him beat goalies off the rush. Penn State also added 2025 Kings pick Caeden Herrington (D) from Vermont.
Michigan State Finally Gets Its Guy
Cullen Potter (F) — from Arizona State
2025-26: 12G, 14A, 26 PTS in 24 GP · 2025 Calgary 1st-round pick (32nd overall)
Potter originally committed to Michigan State but ended up in Tempe when the Spartans had no roster spot for him. Now he’s back, and MSU needs scoring after losing Daniel Russell, Porter Martone and Charlie Stramel. Potter is an elite skater and a creative center who was leading ASU in scoring before a January shoulder injury ended his season. He went through Calgary’s development camp this summer, which suggests he’s healthy. The Spartans also picked up forward Jimmy Clark from Minnesota and goalie Quentin Sigurdson from Northeastern.
Western Michigan Keeps the Goalie Pipeline Running
Quentin Miller (G) — from Denver to Western Michigan
2025-26: 12-10-2, .916 SV%, 2.39 GAA, 3 SO in 25 GP · 2023 Montreal draft pick
Miller started 24 straight games for Denver before a lower-body injury in late January. Backup Johnny Hicks then went unbeaten and won the national title, which left Miller without a starting job. He’s now replacing 2025 champion Hampton Slukynsky at Western Michigan, a program with a strong record of developing goalies. He’s a sleeper candidate for the Mike Richter Award.
Five More Names on the Radar
- Sascha Boumedienne (D), Boston University → Ohio State: a 2025 Winnipeg first-rounder, and the highest-drafted defenseman to move this cycle.
- Hudson Malinoski (F), Providence → North Dakota: a Toronto draft pick joining an NCHC contender.
- Hagen Burrows (F), Denver → Notre Dame: a Tampa Bay pick leaving the champions for a Big Ten reset.
- Filip Nordberg (D), Merrimack → Arizona State: a 2022 Ottawa second-rounder anchoring a heavily rebuilt ASU blue line.
- Will Skahan (D), Boston College → Minnesota State: a 2024 Utah second-rounder who helps fill the hole Murr left.
Why the Portal Matters to Fans
Every transfer in this list is a chance for fans to get behind a player from day one. Players arrive in new cities with new teammates and new fan bases to win over. On RallyFuel, fans can back the athletes they care about through verified, transparent NIL deals. That includes the returning star you’ve cheered for years and the transfer you just added to your team.
Stay on top of every move: track D1 hockey transfers in real time on the RallyFuel Transfer Tracker, and get the RallyFuel app.
