With Fourth of July weekend upon us, blistering heat covering much of the nation, and a Pure Michigan summer fully underway, there's no better time to write about Michigan State's impact on NHL development camps than while sitting on a boat on a lake as friends and family play football in the water all around.
It's no secret the Spartans have a plethora of skilled players ready to set the NHL ablaze. Before they get their chance to do so, they'll continue their development at Michigan State. But before they even return to East Lansing, many are already making headlines at NHL development camps with the organizations that drafted them.
Whether it's one of the five first-round draft picks from this year's roster, the four other first-round picks on the team, or the impressive collection of draft picks selected throughout the rest of the draft, one thing is becoming abundantly clear: the Spartans are about to be littered all across the NHL.
In fact, there's probably a handful of players who could step onto NHL ice and compete at the highest level right now. They may not make as much noise immediately as Porter Martone did, but some just might.
We're already seeing those players light up development camps while filling social media timelines with highlight-reel plays.
Ryker Lee has had people whispering about the magician's code after dazzling all week long, capping it off with one of the best shootout goals posted from any development camp. Lee came down the left side while handling the puck like it was attached to a string, dancing it around his stick at incredible speed before nonchalantly sliding it right underneath the goalie's pads.
Lee also added an assist in the Predators' development game.
None of this is new to Spartan fans, who saw just how magical Lee was with the puck last season. He's expected to lead Michigan State's offense and is the favorite to finish as the team's leading scorer thanks to his ability to dance through defenders before burying the puck in the back of the net.
Tommy Blyel has already become a fan favorite in Nashville and has been putting the rest of the young players at Predators development camp on notice with his defensive presence while also showing he can contribute offensively.
Incoming Spartan and 2026 first-round draft pick Jack Hextall also made plenty of noise during Calgary's development camp, announcing himself as one of the organization's biggest standouts.
Hextall also scored during his team's shootout, skating directly at the goalie before lifting his left leg and ripping a wrist shot past him.
Cullen Potter was another name generating plenty of buzz in Calgary as the transfer commit looks ready for a breakout season with the Spartans.
Tommi Männistö, who's preparing to return to Michigan State, buried a rebound goal during Columbus Blue Jackets development camp as he continues to impress.
Ethan Belchetz converted a penalty shot for Team Black during the Utah Mammoth development camp scrimmage. Another 2026 first-round pick, Belchetz will be someone the Spartans lean on heavily this season for both his physicality and scoring ability.
Perhaps the biggest standout of them all has been Chase Reid in Seattle. Talking heads around the Kraken have been salivating over the idea of Reid eventually making it to the NHL, with several saying he was hands down the best player on the ice throughout Seattle's development camp.
It doesn't matter which NHL team's development camp highlights you're watching—you're almost guaranteed to find a Spartan making an impact.
Soon enough, the NHL will be filled to the brim with former Spartans. But first, they'll reunite in East Lansing with one goal in mind: bringing home Michigan State's fourth consecutive Big Ten championship.
