First-round NHL pick Tommy Bleyl changes course, will join MSU this winter

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Heading into the NHL draft over the weekend, it appeared Michigan State hockey commit Tommy Bleyl was all set in his plan to delay the start of his Spartan career until the 2027-28 season.

Bleyl told reporters on Friday he was prepared to return to Moncton in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League — where he had 13 goals and 68 assists in 63 games his rookie year — for one more season before joining MSU in 2027.

But conversations over the weekend led to Bleyl and the Spartans ultimately changing course.

Bleyl, who was drafted at No. 31 overall Friday in the first round by the Nashville Predators, confirmed to The Tennessean's Predators beat reporter Alex Daugherty on Monday that he would now be attending MSU this fall.

Bleyl, who is known for his standout skating ability, is expected to be an immediate contributor for the Spartans.

Scott Wheeler, who analyzes the draft and hockey prospects for The Athletic, said Bleyl was one of the best defensemen in the Quebec league despite being a rookie:

"His game is defined by his effortless mobility," Wheeler wrote. "He can influence a lot of what happens on the ice because of his skating."

Bleyl is skating this week at the Predators' Development Camp along current MSU forward Ryker Lee, who Nashville selected in the first round of the 2025 draft.

MSU will now have 10 total first-round picks on this year's roster, including five from this year's draft.

Bleyl will join incoming freshman Chase Reid, who was drafted No. 7 overall by Seattle over the weekend, and returners Patrick Geary, Owen West, Sean Barnhill, Matt Lahey and Cole Ward on the Spartans' defense corps.

MSU still could bring in one more defenseman to round out the roster come fall.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: First-round NHL pick Tommy Bleyl changes course, will join MSU this winter

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