Ryan Ufko, RHD
The UMass men’s hockey team will be loaded on the blue line in a few years, as Ryan Ufko will be joining Scott Morrow next season on the team in 2022. Ufko played in the USHL with the Chicago Steel this year, and led their defenseman in scoring with an impressive 39 points (10 goals and 29 assists) in 53 games.
Ufko plays a similar game to the aforementioned Scott Morrow: he activates often offensively, comfortable as a quarterback on the power play and 5v5 situations. Although his offensive toolkit isn’t quite as good as Morrow’s (Doesn’t quite possess the raw speed and hockey IQ), he has more proof of his defensive capabilities, as he’s excelled at a higher level. With the Chicago steel, Ufko illustrated the ability to control pace of play both on defense and offense. He does a great job with possession, ensuring that opposing teams have as little time with the puck as possible. When the opposing team does gain possession, he gives them little space, harassing with his stick and closing gaps quickly.
Although he’s doesn’t have quite the raw tools of a Morrow, Ufko has shown an ability to adapt his defensive game to a more skilled league. If Yzerman is still looking for an offensive defenseman in the second, Ufko is a relatively safe option with a good amount of upside. He also fills the organization need of a more offensive right-shot defenseman.