Michigan State's 2026-27 Roster is Set: Spartans Begin Quest for a Fourth Straight Big Ten Title

· Yahoo Sports

Blink and you may have missed the summer.

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With August arriving in less than a week, minds begin to shift from lake days and vacations to school shopping and the return of football. Before long, the harsh winter that forces most northerners inside, onto the couch, and in front of the television will be here, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

With the reality of up-north living setting in, many people find solace in hockey. And with the Detroit Red Wings still searching for consistency, there's a good chance fans looking for high-level, entertaining hockey will once again turn their attention to the thriving NCAA ranks. What a time to do it, too, as college hockey has never boasted as many top NHL prospects as it does entering the 2026-27 season.

Of those NHL prospects, few collections are as impressive as the one Adam Nightingale has assembled in East Lansing. That brings plenty of excitement for Spartan fans, but it also brings sky-high expectations. Michigan State will rely on a talented group of newcomers, many with little-to-no collegiate experience, while leaning heavily on its veteran leadership to guide the way.

The Spartans enter the season chasing their fourth consecutive Big Ten regular-season championship, but their goals extend far beyond conference dominance. Michigan State is also searching for its first Frozen Four appearance since 2007, when the Spartans captured the program's third national championship.

The resume under Nightingale continues to grow. Michigan State has won three straight Big Ten regular-season titles and two of the last three Big Ten Tournament championships after falling to Ohio State in last year's tournament. Despite the conference success, the NCAA Tournament has remained the hurdle the Spartans have yet to clear.

Last season was another painful reminder.

Michigan State appeared to have its opening-round game against Wisconsin all but wrapped up, holding a 3-1 lead with just over five minutes remaining. Three Badger goals later, the Spartans suddenly found themselves trailing before ultimately falling in heartbreaking fashion.

This season, the youthful but immensely talented Spartans will look not only to keep their conference dominance alive but also to push farther than any Adam Nightingale-coached team has before.

There have already been plenty of articles profiling many of these players, and we'll continue breaking down this roster throughout the offseason. But for the first time this year, we've seen the complete 2026-27 roster. For many fans, though, the biggest reveal wasn't who made the team—it was the jersey numbers each Spartan will wear this season.

Here's a look at the complete roster, including hometowns and NHL Draft information.

Forwards

  • No. 7 – Jimmy Clark | Sr. | Edina, Minnesota | Minnesota Wild
  • No. 9 – Mason West | Fr. | Edina, Minnesota | Chicago Blackhawks
  • No. 10 – Tommi Männistö | Sr. | Riihimäki, Finland
  • No. 12 – Griffin Jurecki | Sr. | Grosse Ile, Michigan
  • No. 15 – Anthony Romani | So. | Pickering, Ontario | Vancouver Canucks
  • No. 16 – Ethan Belchetz | Fr. | Oakville, Ontario | Utah Mammoth
  • No. 17 – Jack Hextall | Fr. | Rolling Meadows, Illinois | Calgary Flames
  • No. 18 – Ryker Lee | So. | Wilmette, Illinois | Nashville Predators
  • No. 21 – Cullen Potter | Jr. | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Calgary Flames
  • No. 23 – Shane Vansaghi | Jr. | St. Louis, Missouri | Philadelphia Flyers
  • No. 25 – Cole Burke | So. | Trenton, Michigan
  • No. 26 – Eric Nilson | So. | Bålsta, Uppsala, Sweden | Anaheim Ducks
  • No. 28 – Cayden Lindstrom | So. | Chetwynd, British Columbia | Columbus Blue Jackets
  • No. 29 – Gavin O'Connell | Sr. | Plymouth, Minnesota

Defensemen

  • No. 2 – Patrick Geary | Sr. | Buffalo, New York | Buffalo Sabres
  • No. 3 – Sean Barnhill | So. | Scottsdale, Arizona | New York Rangers
  • No. 4 – Brady Peddle | Fr. | Antigonish, Nova Scotia | Pittsburgh Penguins
  • No. 6 – Cole Ward | So. | Rochester, Michigan
  • No. 11 – Owen West | Jr. | Pittsboro, Indiana
  • No. 14 – Matt Lahey | So. | Victoria, British Columbia | Toronto Maple Leafs
  • No. 22 – Tommy Bleyl | Fr. | Schenectady, New York | Nashville Predators
  • No. 27 – Chase Reid | Fr. | Chesterfield, Michigan | Seattle Kraken

Goaltenders

  • No. 1 – Quentin Sigurjonsson | Jr. | Sartell, Minnesota
  • No. 31 – Joshua Ravensbergen | Fr. | North Vancouver, British Columbia | San Jose Sharks
  • No. 32 – JJ Salajko | Fr. | Columbus, Ohio

Numbers Currently Not in Use

No. 5

No. 8 – Originally assigned to Nikita Klepov (Fr. | F | Deerfield Beach, Florida | Anaheim Ducks)

This number was originally reserved for 15th overall NHL Draft pick Nikita Klepov, the American-born Russian whose skill with the puck immediately made him one of the most anticipated newcomers in college hockey. But before he ever had the opportunity to suit up for Michigan State, the Anaheim Ducks liked what they saw enough to sign him to a three-year entry-level contract.

That move sends Klepov to professional hockey, where he'll likely begin in the AHL with an opportunity to push for NHL minutes sooner rather than later. The youth movement continues to take over the NHL, and the Ducks clearly weren't interested in waiting.

Because of that, Klepov won't suit up for the Spartans this season, leaving No. 8 available once again. If Adam Nightingale elects to add another forward before the season begins—and with an open roster spot, I'd expect that's certainly a possibility—that number could soon belong to someone else.

No. 13

No. 19

No. 20

No. 24

No. 30

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