The Penn State men’s hockey offseason is underway following a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Minnesota-Duluth in Albany, New York. The Nittany Lions are set to enter a new era with a roster that will look drastically different from the group that took the ice in 2025-26.

Several of Penn State’s top contributors have already moved on to the professional level. Aiden Fink signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Nashville Predators, and Matt DiMarsico, Charlie Cerrato, and Kevin Reidler also leaped to the next level.

In addition to those signings, Penn State will lose Jarod Crespo, Carter Schade, Alex Servagno, and Chris McFadden once they graduate. JJ Weibusch has already announced his plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens up on Monday, with multiple online reports reporting Nic Chin-DeGraves is expected to do the same. Most notably, Gavin McKenna is no longer expected to be a part of the equation as he is set to move on to the NHL.

Despite the heavy turnover, Penn State will bring in a strong incoming class, with the returning guys expected to take on much larger roles. The Nittany Lions also have the chance to add talent through the transfer portal when it opens, giving the roster even more room to change.

But as it stands right now, here’s a way-too-early look at what the lineup could look like for Penn State men’s hockey heading into the 2026-27 season.

First Line

Pierce Mbuyi — Dane Dowiak — Reese Laubach

The return of Dane Dowiak will be a huge factor in shaping Penn State’s top line. Before suffering a season-ending injury, Dowiak centered McKenna and Fink, showing he can handle the responsibility of playing with two high-end offensive players. Dowiak recorded 18 points through 27 games, but was more known as a two-way forward who was reliable in the faceoff circle. Assuming his recovery goes as planned, Dowiak would be the clear option to center Penn State’s top line.

In Dowiak’s absence, Reese Laubach stepped up as the top line center. Now returning as arguably the most skilled forward on the roster, Laubach finished last season with 28 points in 37 games and continued to show his ability to produce against Big Ten opponents.

Joining them is incoming freshman Pierce Mbuyi, who has a real chance to make an immediate impact. Coming off a team-high 75-point season with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL, Mbuyi’s offensive upside, combined with his size and physicality, gives the Nittany Lions a completely different dimension on the wing. With Dowiak providing stability and Laubach driving the offense, Mbuyi has the chance to step into a prime scoring role immediately.

Second Line

Shea Van Olm — Kale Dach — Luke Misa

Luke Misa often slotted in at center last season and showed he could handle the responsibility despite being a natural winger. He finished his freshman campaign with 19 points in 37 games and flashed his offensive upside, but with Kale Dach and Quinn McKenzine both playing as natural centers, there doesn’t seem to be a need for Misa to play down the middle.

The former Brampton Steelhead could reunite with Shea Van Olm, a pairing that saw significant time together this past season on the third line. With so much roster turnover, keeping any chemistry intact is important.

Van Olm finished last season with 12 points in 33 games, but his impact was bigger than the stats show. Nearly all of his biggest moments came in high-pressure situations, including scoring the only goal in a 7-1 loss to Michigan, netting two goals against Ohio State, scoring the go-ahead goal in the Beaver Stadium game, and scoring the only goal for Penn State at the NCAA Regionals. Time and time again, Van Olm showed a tendency to step up when Penn State needed it most.

At center, Dach stands out as one of the highest-regarded incoming players in the country. He notched 75 points (34 goals, 41 assists) in 63 regular-season games with the Calgary Hitmen and added four points in four playoff games thus far. His ability to control the puck and drive play down the middle would give this line a strong foundation, and his offensive production suggests he can elevate the players around him.

Third Line

Shea Busch — Quinn McKenzie — Kieren Dervin

McKenzie slots in as the third-line center, coming from his season with the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL. McKenzie recorded 51 points in 65 regular-season games and has added three points in five playoff games so far. As one of the more polished incoming forwards, his play could fit well in a bottom-six role to start.

On the wing, Shea Busch brings a strong physical presence. After making the move from the BCHL to the WHL midway through his draft year last season, Busch originally stepped into a depth role with the Everett Silvertips, recording 19 points in 39 games while adjusting to the higher level of play. This season, Busch tallied 18 points (13 goals, 5 assists) and has scored a goal and added an assist in his two postseason appearances so far. Busch’s ability to play through contact and win battles along the boards makes him a good option in a bottom-six role.

Alongside Busch, Kieren Dervin is one of the more skilled forwards in Penn State’s incoming class. Dervin recorded 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 53 games with the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL, finishing third on a low-scoring team while playing top-line minutes. In his first full OHL season, he showed strong playmaking ability in transition and the ability to produce consistently in a larger role.

Fourth Line

Lev Katzin — Liam Beamish — Casey Aman

Penn State’s fourth line is likely to be made up of a mix of returning depth players and younger incoming talent. Liam Beamish fits naturally as a center after recording 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 66 games in the WHL this past season. The year prior, he appeared in 20 games with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

Casey Aman is a natural defenseman, but he shifted to forward for much of the second half of Penn State’s season due to injuries. Guy Gadowsky has spoken highly of how Aman handled the transition, showing the trust the coaching staff has in him. For that reason, Aman could be a trusty option to stay at forward moving into next season.

Lev Katzin will return as a player who consistently found his way into the lineup last season. While he didn’t bring a ton of offensive production, Katzin made an impact in other ways, using his willingness to get under opponents’ skin to create energy. He also showed reliability in the faceoff dot, which gives Penn State another option on draws when needed.

Extras

Braedon Ford, Keaton Peters

Braedon Ford is another option for Penn State’s bottom six. He appeared in 14 games during his freshman season and 22 this past season, primarily serving as a depth piece who can bring physicality and get under oppenents skin when needed. He fits the mold of a gritty fourth liner, and his role will likely depend on how the roster shakes out over the offseason.

Keaton Peters is more of a question mark heading into the offseason. After missing the entire 2025-26 season due to injury, there is still uncertainty surrounding where he fits into the lineup. As a freshman, Peters slotted into the bottom six. If healthy, he can take on a similar or possibly expanded role. For now, his place in the lineup is unclear.

First Defensive Pair

Jackson Smith — Nolan Collins

Jackson Smith returning to Penn State for the 2026-27 season is a major boost for the Nittany Lions’ blue line as he continues his development. Smith broke the program record for single-season goals by a defenseman and spent the entire season on the top pair. Smith looks set to take on that role once again, moving into next year.

With Crespo no longer in the picture, Penn State now has to replace a key piece alongside Smith. Several options exist, including Cade Christenson, Nolan Collins, and Nick Fascia. Fascia’s status is still unclear after suffering a season-ending injury late in the season. Christenson showed promise, even beginning to produce more offensively as he settled into his role late in the year.

Collins, however, looks like a strong candidate to step into that role. He saw consistent time in the lineup as a freshman and could fit well alongside a more offensive Smith.

Second Defensive Pair

Cade Christenson — Nick Fascia

Christenson saw limited action during the 2025-26 season due to an injury suffered in September, appearing in only 21 games. He recorded seven points, including five goals, showing more confidence offensively.

Alongside him, Fascia brings experience if he can get back on the ice on time. When in the lineup, Fascia brings a mix of offense and reliability on defense. His ability to move the puck makes him a good option on the blue line for the Nittany Lions.

Third Defensive Pair

Mac Gadwosky — Ethan Weber

Mac Gadowsky was a consistent presence in the lineup, appearing in 36 games last season in a depth role on the blue line. He recorded 18 points, but his impact came more from being a steady presence rather than driving play offensively. As it stands, Gadowsky gives Penn State a familiar option who understands Nittany Lion hockey.

Alongside him, Ethan Weber can add another layer to Penn State’s blue line as he continues his season with the Penticton Vees in the WHL. Weber has recorded 51 points in 68 regular-season games and has added three points in five playoff games as he heads into the second round. Weber’s game leans more on physicality. He’s known for taking away space in the defensive end. As he adjusts to the college level, Weber can give Penn State a dependable option on the back end to round out the defense.

Starting Goalie

Josh Fleming

Josh Fleming is set to take over as Penn State’s starting goaltender heading into the 2026-27 season. He split time with Kevin Reidler for much of the 2025-26 season, but eventually took control of the crease down the stretch. He started in both the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

Fleming finished the year with a .924 save percentage and a 2.61 goals-against average across 20 appearances. As a freshman, he was named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List and was also named a Hobey Baker Award nominee.