From Mike Anthony article:
The Huskies' incoming recruiting class includes five freshmen — four forwards and a defenseman — that should improve the team's offensive ability. The Huskies averaged 1.83 goals last season, 55th out of 59 Division I teams.
The incoming freshmen are forwards Tage Thompson, Marco Richter, Karl El-Mir, Max Kalter and defenseman Miles Gendron. Goalie Tanner Creel is also expected to transfer to UConn from Army.
Thompson (6 feet 4, 180 pounds), the son of Bridgeport Sound Tigers coach Brent Thompson, will be one of the more intriguing offensive newcomers in Hockey East. He spent the past year with the U.S. national development team in Ann Arbor, Mich., scoring 12 goals in 64 games, and reclassified to join UConn in 2015-16 instead of 2016-17, which was the original plan. He was raised on Long Island and his family now lives in Orange.
"Great genes," Cavanaugh said. "As he grows and matures, and gets physically stronger, he has a chance to be a really high impact player. He's one of those kids who knows how to score. He's big, has great skill, excellent touch around the net. He has that ability to score goals, a lot like Spencer Naas [who led UConn with 13 last season as a freshman], who just knows how to score. Different players, but they both know how to get the puck in the net."
Gendron (6-3, 185 pounds) of Shrewsbury, Mass., who converted from forward to defense two years ago, was a third-round selection of the Ottawa Senators last year. Cavanaugh considers Gendron to be one of the best skaters in the draft.
"And he could be one of the best skaters in Hockey East next year," Cavanaugh said. "He was outstanding [with Penticton of the BCHL]. Really gifted, and I think he got stronger this year. He'll still need to improve his strength, but it will come. [Penguins defenseman] Brian Dumoulin was a beanpole when we recruited him [to Boston College in 2009]. When he got stronger, he became a force, and I think it can be the same for Miles."
Cavanaugh was also optimistic about El-Mir (6-0, 175, Montreal), Kalter (5-7, 180, Highland Park, Ill.) and Richter (6-1, 187, Vienna, Austria) making an immediate impact. Just as important, he said, was the continued development of returning players.
"I think [sophomore forward] Kasperi Ojantakanen is going to make a huge jump next year," Cavanaugh said. "He's not going to score just two goals. I'd be very disappointed if he does. I think [sophomore forward] Corey Ronan has the potential to be more than a five-goal scorer. [Sophomore forward] Jesse Schwartz can make a big jump. [Senior captain] Patrick Kirtland can pick up some of the slack. And if we're doing our job as a staff, they're all going to be getting. That's who I'm looking to because it's unfair to say a freshman is going to fill Ryan Tyson's spot. He doesn't even know what the heck it's like to go up to play Maine at Alford Arena."
