Penn State hockey notes: Offseason strategy, a key returnee and more

Penn State Nittany Lions hockey concluded its 2021-22 season at 17-20-1, the program’s second consecutive losing season.

Meeting the media for the first time since the Nittany Lions ended their campaign on March 12, coach Guy Gadowsky laid out his offseason roadmap.

Penn State wasn’t as aggressive as some other programs around the country in the transfer portal last offseason, and Gadowsky said the Nittany Lions will take a similar tact this time around.

The Nittany Lions will look to address their needs, but don’t expect a full makeover.

“We are absolutely looking, and if the right fit is there we will,” Gadowsky said. “It still remains to be seen, but we’ll definitely explore.”

A key returnee for Penn State

The Nittany Lions received a major boost when defenseman Paul DeNaples revealed that he’ll return for his fifth season of eligibility.

Serving as Penn State’s captain last season, DeNaples finished tied for the team lead with a +12 rating.

He’s not the most dynamic defenseman in an offensive sense, with just eight points across 38 games, but DeNaples offers the Nittany Lions some much-needed defensive nous on the blue line.

Perhaps more importantly, the Nittany Lions can build around their leader — and a player who knows what it takes to win.

“To have our captain back to make sure that we don’t lose any ground is really important,” Gadowsky said. “On the other hand, when you have three young defensemen coming in who get to look at a guy like him, how he does things, that’s going to be invaluable.”

Acknowledging that this season fell short of the mark, DeNaples said he partially based his decision to return on the opportunity to make that right.

“One, I want to win a national championship here, make it further than I have my four years here,” he said. “Two, when [Gadowsky] gave me the opportunity to give myself another year to develop for pro hockey…it was kind of an easy decision for me.”

Goaltending picture unclear

Gadowsky said senior netminder Oskar Autio is exploring his options following the conclusion of the season.

Autio still has an extra season of eligibility should he elect to use it. But, after beginning the season as the starter in goal, Autio lost out to sophomore Liam Souliere.

Souliere started Penn State’s final six games of the season and showed well.

He made crucial saves in an upset victory over Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten Playoffs.

Autio finished the season with an .893 save percentage and a 10-13-0 record. Souliere concluded the year with a .905 mark and a 7-7-1 record.

“I think you have to look at Liam Souliere as someone you have to be excited about,” Gadowsky said. “The way he finished up was exceptional. If you look at his numbers, his most recent games were excellent at the most important time.”

Penn State won’t deviate from its model

By far, Gadowsky’s favorite topic of the 2021-22 season was culture.

The Penn State head man felt his group had lost its edge during the 2020-21 COVID-impacted campaign. In his view, this season was about getting it back.

Gadowsky feels the Nittany Lions succeeded, citing how they played late in the season — and specifically in the Big Ten playoffs, where they bested Ohio State and could have beaten a Minnesota team that is playing in the Frozen Four this week.

For Penn State to reach that level, Gadowsky said his group will have to play with a snarl.

“I think for us, where our program is right now, I think it’s a necessity,” he said.

“It’s part of what we are. It’s going to be a while until we can say we’ve got these 100 players in the NHL and these multiple national championships. We’re in a different spot, and that’s OK. But we can’t pretend to be something we’re not, but we’re very happy being us.”