August 21, 2008

TRENT PALM
Minnesota Duluth
Jr. | D | Edina, Minn.


Palm is the first Bulldog to hail from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.

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Key Statistics: After recording just one point in 32 games as a rookie, Palm's second season of college hockey got off to a nice start, when he scored the Bulldogs' first goal of the season in a 2-2 tie with Lake Superior State. He ended up with 10 points, playing in 34 of the team's 36 games.

What He Does: There was a defensive hole to be filled in Duluth when Matt Niskanen abruptly left the Twin Ports for a career with the Dallas Stars a year ago, and Palm was thrust into that mix. Praised by his coaches for his positioning and his smarts, Palm's upside has been hampered just a bit by a nagging hip injury that limited his effectiveness as a sophomore. Palm says he's 100 percent heading into this season, but is still working closely with the sports medicine folks at UMD, who aren't taking any chances.

The Bigger Picture: Off-season ice time is rarely a problem for Palm when he's home in the Minneapolis suburbs. His father (along with Wisconsin defenseman Jamie McBain's father) is part-owner of an arena complex in Edina, and Trent literally has a key to the rink and his own locker. Summertime pick-up games there routinely involve NHLers like Erik Johnson and Kyle Okposo, as well as current collegians like McBain, Mike Carman and Ryan Flynn. Palm is the first product of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program to skate for the Bulldogs, and admits that his first two seasons have been filled with ups and downs. As a junior, he's aiming for good health, more consistent play, and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.

UMD head coach Scott Sandelin on Palm: “At the development program they play eight defensemen and obviously there are some pretty good players there, so Trent fit more into a defensive role, playing in the shadow of guys like Erik Johnson and Jack Johnson. When he got here, I reminded him that he's not in that shadow any more, and he can go be Trent Palm."

— Jess Myers