ZACH BUDISH
Minnesota
So. | F | Edina, Minn.

Minnesota was 9-1-1 in games in which Budish recorded at least one point last season.

Key Statistics: Seeing action in all 39 of the Golden Gophers’ games as a WCHA rookie, Budish spent much of the season’s second half playing wing on the top line with since-departed Jordan Schroeder. Minnesota was 9-1-1 in games where Budish recorded a point, and 9-18-1 in games where he was kept off the scoresheet.

What He Does: The first thing that strikes you about Budish is his size. At 6-3, 220, last season, he was an imposing presence on the ice. But talk to him in civilian clothes and the term “gentle giant” comes to mind. His coach wants that to change. Minnesota head man Don Lucia says that one of his goals for Budish in year two is to “try to get him to be a little bit meaner” on the ice. Budish says that more physical play is a goal he’s working on as well. He spent part of the summer at the Nashville Predators’ development camp, learning about the way to treat your body right and prepare for maximum on-ice output. With his size, look for Budish to spend considerable time at the top of the crease on the Gophers’ power play, taking away the opposing goalie’s eyes and playing for tips and deflections.

The Bigger Picture: Making the jump directly from high school to the WCHA is tough enough. Now try doing so without playing any hockey for a full season. That’s what Budish did last year, after a serious knee injury suffered while playing high school football wiped out his senior year on the ice. His previous prep efforts were enough to get him a spot on the Gopher roster and make him a second-round NHL draft pick, and he led all Minnesota rookies with seven goals a year ago. But like any good “team-first” athlete, Budish brushes off talk of individual accomplishments, and instead is focused on pulling the Gopher program out of its recent doldrums. “Not making the (NCAA) tournament for two years in a row is definitely not acceptable here,” Budish said.

Gophers coach Don Lucia on Budish: “Zach has a really heavy shot and passes the puck extremely hard as well. When he zips a pass, you’d better be ready for it, because it’s like a missile.”