60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Michigan State

Michigan State

2018-19 Record: 12-19-5 (8-12-4, 7th in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Danton Cole, 3rd Year
Top returning scorers: Patrick Khodorenko (18G-19A) and Mitchell Lewandowski (16G-18A)
Top returning goaltenders: John Lethemon (Sr.) and Drew DeRidder (So.)

The KHL Line is dead. Long live the KHL Line.

Michigan State brings the Big Ten to this series after the second and final season of one college hockey's more memorable lines recently. The KHL Line made up of Patrick Khodorenko, Taro Hirose and Mitchell Lewandowski had nearly 50% of MSU's goals. They led the Spartans at both even strength and on the power play together.

It's not often a one-line team succeeds (and MSU did finish seventh in the Big Ten once again), however, Michigan State had some success. Teams knew what they needed to contain the Spartans. In spite of that, the KHL Line was able to succeed. (Just going to link to this 7-7 January tie against Ohio State as an example.) Hirose tied for the national lead in points with 50. Lewandowski co-led the Big Ten in game-winning goals.

What's New: Needing to replace Hirose. All three players in the KHL Line had eligibility remaining, however, Hirose chose to forgo his senior season and sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Volunteer goalie coach Jason Muzzatti also went pro, joining the Carolina Hurricanes in the same role.

One new player who could be of help is Josh Nodler. The fifth-round pick of the Calgary Flames had 17 goals for the Fargo Force (USHL) during his draft-eligible season.

What else? Munn Ice Arena is expanding. Stop watching your offseason "Fixer Upper" because it's demo day!

Here we go! Ground has officially been broken on the Munn expansion! pic.twitter.com/dXGxHpTvmu

— MSU_Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) July 17, 2019

Michigan State is undergoing an $18.8 million renovation of its 6,000+ seat arena, which opened in 1974. When completed, Munn will have a new locker room, weight room and training areas that have become the norm throughout the rest of the Big Ten. It remains to be seen whether the visiting team still will walk uphill from the bench to a tiny area not fit for a locker room and skate sharpener.

Fun fact: One of the larger donators? Tom Izzo.

Closing Thoughts: Most teams would struggle with the loss of the nation's leading scorer and a Hobey Baker top-ten finalist. In Hirose, MSU loses a player who stirred the drink that was Michigan State's offense. It's difficult to convey how many passes and opportunities went through him. Of the games MSU scored a goal, there were only five that Hirose didn't end up with at least one point.

Still, that the Spartans only need to replace one of its triumvirate (Khodorenko and Lewandowski, while both being undrafted free agents, returned to East Lansing) can be seen as a slight win. The KHL Line is no more, but the foundation at least remains.

And that will be important for Danton Cole's team. With or without Hirose, finding secondary scoring is a necessity for a team that has taken steps in the right direction during Cole's first two seasons. (See: Drew DeRidder working his way into a goaltending platoon with John Lethemon, sweeping Cornell, Tommy Miller's play.) The highest scoring returnee outside the KHL Line had five goals. MSU not only needs to replace Hirose. The Spartans need to create offense.

The best way to stop one line? Force teams to work on shutting down a second line.

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