Recruits 2027 and Beyond

[BearLover]

Responding to a few of the points made here:

• Height and weight listed online for these players is usually not current. He likely weighs more than 161 pounds. Also, as others have noted, there are great players who weigh less than Dec does, Lane Hutson being a good example. Comparing Dec's weight to players up to six inches taller than him doesn't have much bearing on the situation. Randle will likely be a regular in the lineup this season and weighs 170 (which may be Dec's current weight).
• Yes, Dec was likely recruited by other teams once he started blowing up in the OHL. That's precisely why it's critical to bring in your best recruits when you have the chance. I have more to say about this but I'm going to wait until the decommitment has been confirmed.
• I don't know this for certain but I'm pretty sure Dec's commitment post was still up as of a month or two ago. I occasionally check on our best recruits to make sure they're still committed. (That's how I ended up noticing this time that the post was gone.) Also, given the team roster still lists his commitment, I assume any decommitment would have been quite recent.

[stereax]

Popped open Auchincloss's tracker and seems Declan Wotton decommed. Don't recall if we brought that up. He still has Dec as Cornell.

[Old Red]

Ursophile,

I don't know if this helps but the dateline is today, so the rest of the world still believes he is committed to Cornell if you do not. 

https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/latest-news/committed-corner-october-28-2026

As for Mr. Dec's overall evaluation, for those concerned about his size, I think he would fit in based on his this from Elite Prospects:

Dec's game is defined by relentless speed. A tireless worker, he pushes the pace and stays fully engaged on every shift. He overwhelms defenders in transition with skilled, deceptive puck handling. While he lacks size, he compensates with tenacity and physicality. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

On the minus side there are many reasons why he might choose to reconsider his commitment to Cornell.  Perhaps his mother objects to a nationally shamed university; perhaps like other highly skilled players before him (Robertson and Cournoyer) he doesn't see Cornell as a place where he will grow.  And at his age growth is most important.  Competition is a factor, playing style is also a factor.  Both Robertson and Cournoyer are at schools where they will see better competition and play with more elite mates, better to nurture their NHL hopes.