2023-24 Miami Preview: Forwards

Only four Division I teams were worse than Miami offensively last season, but two of the RedHawks’ top three scorers return in 2023-24, as well as a pair of impressive sophomores.

And MU added six forwards in the off-season, five of which are transfers with significant NCAA experience.

The RedHawks open the season with 15 forwards, two fewer than last season, and this coaching staff tends to dress 12 forwards each night.

The Miami coaching staff refused to be interviewed for this and subsequent stories and has instructed its staff to block VFTG from all future player interview requests.

VFTG takes a look at the forwards in Part II of our 2023-24 Miami Preview.

Part I can be found here: Overview.

WHO’S BACK: Srs. (3) – Thomas Daskas, Matthew Barbolini, P.J. Fletcher; Jrs. (0) – None; Sos. (7) – Max Dukovac, John Waldron, Franie Carogioiello, Blake Mesenburg, William Hallen, Artur Turansky.

WHO’S GONE: Red Savage (transferred to Michigan St.), Joey Cassetti, Jack Olmstead, Ryan Savage, Chase Pletzke, John Sladic, Michael Holland, Brian Silver.

WHO’S NEW (previous team in parentheses): Tanyon Bajzer (Odessa, NAHL); Teddy Lagerback (Arizona St., NCAA); Brayden Morrison (Wisconsin, NCAA); Albin Nilsson (Niagara, NCAA); Ryan Sullivan (Massachusetts, NCAA); Raimonds Vitolins (Vermont, NCAA).

ANALYSIS: The good news for Miami is 10 of its 15 forwards from 2022-23 return this fall, and the RedHawks have added five NCAA-experienced transfers up front.

Sadly, among those 10 that dressed for MU in 2022-23, only senior Matthew Barbolini managed to eclipse the 15-point mark, going 10-15-25.

Barbolini does everything at a high level and is nearly a shoo-in for top-line duties. He’s one of the best RedHawks ever at tipping in shots from the top of the crease.

P.J. Fletcher regressed, sliding from 24 points in 2021-22 to 15 last season and finishing minus-19. But he has tons of talent and should challenge for the team points lead and again play on the top line and power play unit.

John Waldron and Max Dukovac thrilled fans with their skill and potential as freshmen. Waldron was third on the team with nine goals despite missing the easiest portion of the schedule (October) with an illness. Dukovac scored a highlight-reel backhander in Lowell weeks into the season, and while he didn’t find the net again, he was second on the team in assists (14).

Unfortunately for Miami, no one else returning notched more than six points last season.

Artur Turansky showed excellent energy and thrived in multiple roles but finished just 4-2-6. William Hallen, Thomas Daskas and Frankie Carogioiello all notched four points and were mainstays in the RedHawks’ lineup.

Turansky, Hallen and Carogioiello were all freshmen last season and Daskas has been able to thrive in the center role.

Blake Mesenburg also impressed in a bottom-six role his rookie year, going 2-1-3.

Albin Nilsson, a Niagara graduate transfer, was expected to help rejuvenate the Miami offense, but he will miss at least the first three months of the season after suffering a knee injury sustained in practice.

Vermont product Raimonds Vitolins should make an impact up front after notching 49 points with USHL Green Bay.

Teddy Lagerback, Ryan Sullivan and Brayden Morrison — son of former Hobey Baker winner and longtime NHL forward Brendan Morrison — all came to Miami via the transfer portal and should compete for lineup spots right away.

The lone true freshman up front, NAHL Odessa standout Tanyon Bajzer, is one of the first Cleveland-area products to dress for the RedHawks in recent years and will hopefully develop into a regular on the lineup card.

The power play struggled last season, executing at just a 16.1-percent clip (45th out of 62 in the NCAA), and even with many new parts — including some on the back end — Miami should improve on the man-advantage.