Pressure Makes Diamonds:
The Slow Burn Path

by T.R. Holler, Let’s Play Hockey Contributor

THE SLOW BURNER

When obvious top tier talent tallies record-breaking stats everybody knows who they are – but to find the hidden gem of an asset look no further than the ‘slow burn player’. Immediate scoring and stats are fantastic barometers, but if you can find steadily increasing, two-way production metrics combined with positive personal player attributes – these are the building blocks of long-term success, from player to team to organization.

Slow burn players are those defined by steady upward trajectory success, true two-way contributors. The methodical ‘grinder’ whose play does not always appear in the box score yet is paramount to team success. Displaying efforts of a 200 ft. game with a relentless forecheck and backcheck, blocking shots, an active and disruptive three-zone stick. The player that deftly utilizes defensive efforts to propel offensive opportunities. Further intangibles layered onto this slow burn player profile would be coachability, positive body language, off-ice behavior/endeavors, and proving to be an equitable teammate that consistently showcases an unflappable disposition.

Inevitably, the slow burner has battled through the youth ranks and into juniors having earned their opportunities at each level. Taking on each unique level of competition and mastering the game at that level before moving forward – the players with a story to tell and experiences to lean on for future challenges. Give me that player. All day, every day. After all, time and pressure make diamonds – there’s no room for snowflakes.

Two seismic shifts have recently come to fruition forever altering the hockey landscape with the new CHL to NCAA pipeline combined with the ever-burgeoning NIL platform – a blank canvas that we are still in the process of analyzing. In fact, a true analysis of the pros/cons and best path therein may take 4-5 years, perhaps even two full recruiting cycles, before tangible trends and analyses emerge shaping future strategies in scouting, recruiting, and ultimately, drafting. Add in the maladaptive transfer portal and we have a casserole of intangibles to digest. A modern situation of delicate balance, albeit backed by Looney Tunes theme music in the background.

IGNORE THE NOISE

When you have so much to filter through, sometimes, the best option, is to simply ‘ignore the noise’ and just do your job. Deploy the ‘KISS’ method (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Two mantras made famous by Bill Belichick while leading the New England Patriots were ‘Ignore the Noise and ‘Do your Job’, ironically, two pillars of the slow burn player. In fact, the Western Michigan Broncos claim before, during, and after their run to the 2025 NCAA title was that they deployed ‘zero NIL dollars’, a direct claim from head coach and Rochester, MN native, Pat Ferschweiler.  Keep in mind, hockey’s overall place in the college NIL game compared to football and basketball, it’s not even close.

Ferschweiler’s Broncos chose how to handle the modern landscape by ignoring the noise and getting to work. Sure, the Broncos recruited their share of drafted NHL talent, but they also added the grinding, slow burn players to embrace specific roles and round out their roster. You play at Western Michigan for development of self and team within a given system and ignore the noise – do your job, earn it, and the accolades will come. Think horse, then cart…a refreshingly intriguing platform, isn’t it?

There are always player outliers, the exceptions that break through and prove their worth early on, handling the hype and transition to the NHL as teenagers, e.g., the McDavids, the Celebrinis, but these are generational, truly pedigreed, and rare superstars. However, the long game, sustained success, like any investment return, is about patience, hard work, and arguably most of all, discipline. The slow burn.

As statistics show, be it from a worldwide or local perspective, it’s beyond difficult to break through to the professional ranks, but it does happen. Sometimes, the keys to long-term success derive from the slow burn, undrafted college free agent. They have aged-out of their NHL draft eligibility, post 21-years of age with most having completed three NCAA D1 seasons. These slow burners rise to the top of many a regional amateur and pro scout to present to their respective NHL teams for free agent signee consideration.

CURRENT BURNERS

Currently, there are 249 NCAA D1 players from Minnesota out of roughly 1,575 NCAA roster spots. Looking toward the NHL, the available roster spots shrink by nearly 50% to 736 roster spots. At the end of the 2024-25 NHL season there were just over 240 former NCAA D1 players on an NHL roster, so the figure grows steadily year upon year. Of those 249 NCAA D1 players on NHL rosters for the current 2025-26 season, it’s estimated that 91 players were undrafted!  Roughly 12.5% of NHL rosters are comprised of the slow burn player, players like Collin Graf, Cooper Black, and Karsen Dorwart. Local to Minnesota over the years players like Blake Lizotte, Neal Pionk, Karson Kuhlman, the late Adam Johnson, and our old pal, Nate Prosser come to mind.

For this 2025-26 NCAA season, a few undrafted Minnesota NCAA D1 players have risen to the forefront as slow burners and are on NHL scouting radars. These local products will form quite the enticing NCAA free agent frenzy once their college careers come to a close;

F – Josh Eernisse, Michigan

C/F – Garrett Schifsky, Michigan

F – Lucas Wahlin, St Thomas

F – Adam Flammang, Bemidji St.

F – Bobby Cowan, Western Mich

D – Evan Murr, Mankato St. 

D – Max Burkholder, Colorado College   

D – Leo Gruba, Minnesota 

G – Kam Hendrickson, U Conn

Are these players talented? You bet. But more so, they are further proof of long-term hard work to continuously refine their specific skill set(s). All on the slow burn, if you will, to round out a two-way, 200-ft. game. The selfless player that remains hungry is beyond intriguing to NHL scouts, they live to find this burner because they know that slow and steady wins the race, now more than ever.

*Data pulled from listed sources based upon and through completion of 2024-25 hockey season. Sources: NHL.com, NCAA.com, theAthletic.com, NHLPA.com, Eliteprospects.com, STATISTA, and private scouting services data. Photos courtesy of university athletic websites and athletic departments.