Zach Lansard, a third‑round selection of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced verbally that he will join the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs for the 2028‑29 season.
The commitment adds depth to a UMD draft class that already features KJ Sauer, a fifth‑round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, and reflects a pipeline of talent that has produced players such as Zam Plante, Brady Cleveland and Max Plante in recent years.
Lansard, a forward from Ste. Anne, Manitoba, posted 24 goals and 32 assists in 68 games for the Regina Pats during the 2025‑26 campaign, a marked rise from the 19 points he recorded in his rookie junior season.
His decision to defer enrollment preserves four years of NCAA eligibility, even though his eligibility clock will begin in 2027‑28, allowing him to arrive on campus after a three‑year development arc.
A strategic addition amid transition
The Bulldogs are preparing for a wave of departures; up to seven current players may sign professional contracts after the 2026‑27 season, including Max Plante, who has already committed to the Detroit Red Wings, and Aaron Pionk, a Minnesota Wild prospect who will exhaust his college eligibility.
Coach Scott Sandelin will need to replenish the roster with at least four new faces next fall, a challenge compounded by the fact that three of the incoming recruits will only be eligible for three seasons before turning professional.