First-round NHL pick Cullen Potter enters the portal. Is East Lansing his next stop, joining a program boosted by superstar Porter Martone's success?
One of the biggest names in collegiate hockey has entered the transfer portal, and it looks like he may be heading to East Lansing.
Cullen Potter, the 32nd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames, has officially put his name into the portal, leaving the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he suited up for the past two seasons.
Potter stands at 5'10", 172 pounds, and hails from Minnesota. A left-handed shooting center, he totaled 25 goals and 23 assists over his two seasons with the Sun Devils, appearing in 59 games.
Per a post on social media platform X from Nathaniel Bott—whose bio states he covers Michigan State hockey and preps for the Lansing State Journal:
“ASU forward Cullen Potter entered the transfer portal.
‘All but certain’ he will be a Spartan next season, sources close to me say.
Former MSU commit who had 12 goals and 14 assists in 24 games with the Sun Devils last season. First-round pick by Calgary last NHL Draft.”
Bott is a phenomenal journalist covering the Spartans, and if his sources are indicating that Potter is highly likely to land in East Lansing, it’s something worth taking seriously.
The Spartans have lost a litany of players this year, including all six players who started their game against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament. That group includes superstar Porter Martone, who is already making waves at the NHL level with the Philadelphia Flyers and pushing toward a playoff opportunity. Also departing are Charlie Stramel, Daniel Russell, Matt Basgall, Colin Ralph, and Trey Augustine.
In addition to those names, Michigan State has seen several seniors move on, along with a few other players heading to the professional ranks or entering the transfer portal.
Speaking of Martone, he has become a walking billboard for the Michigan State hockey program. His explosion onto the NHL scene has generated not only local buzz but national attention as well, frequently finding himself featured prominently on ESPN’s SportsCenter. There’s something about Martone that feels larger than life—something that hints at a future face of the sport.
Is that a bit premature for a player only a handful of games into his professional career? Maybe. But if you watched every Michigan State hockey game this past season, it’s not far-fetched at all. With his rapid rise, it’s easy to see how players around college hockey—especially those entering the portal—are taking notice. Head coach Adam Nightingale has built a program that develops talent and provides a clear pathway to success, and that visibility matters.
While Martone may not be the sole reason Potter could choose Michigan State, he certainly serves as a powerful ambassador for what the program can offer.
Looking ahead, the Spartans will need to fill several key holes on the roster. However, the cupboard is far from bare. Michigan State still boasts one of the strongest returning cores in college hockey, with players like Ryker Lee, Shane Vansaghi, and Cayden Lindstrom ready to step into larger roles and lead the next wave.
That sets up an intriguing offseason for Nightingale and his staff, who will need to strike the right balance between incoming talent and returning leadership.
It all potentially starts with landing a high-impact player like Cullen Potter. If the Spartans can secure his commitment, it would be a major step toward sustaining their momentum.
Stay tuned to Roundtable Sports for all offseason updates as Michigan State sets its sights on a fourth straight Big Ten regular-season title—and beyond.