Our final rankings of 2006-07 get shuffled based
on the outcome of the Frozen Four, but when you take the entire
season into account – as we do – the teams that
made the trip to St. Louis aren't automatically guaranteed
a spot in the top four of our poll.
Here's how the Inside College Hockey editors
and staff rank the nation's top teams (along with a note for
each team).
| No. |
Team |
|
Of
Note |
| 1. |
 Michigan
State |
 4 |
The Spartans lose five seniors, four of them defensemen.
But the top eight forwards are back, as is goalie Jeff
Lerg. |
| 26-13-3 (15-10-3
CCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Maine, 4-2; W vs. Boston College,
3-1. |
| 2. |
 Boston
College |
— |
Provided everyone sticks around, the Eagles could be
the top-ranked team in the preseason. Brian Boyle and
Joe Rooney are the lone key losses. |
| 29-12-1 (18-8-1
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: W vs. North Dakota, 6-4; L vs.
Michigan State, 3-1. |
| 3. |
 North
Dakota |
 2 |
As of right now, the Sioux will bid adieu to forwards
Chris Porter and Erik Fabian. As NoDak fans know, however,
that can change (see Stafford, Drew and Parise, Zach)
|
| 24-14-5 (13-10-5
WCHA) LAST WEEK: L vs. Boston College, 6-4. |
| 4. |
 Notre
Dame |
1 |
The Irish return their top five scorers (including the
potent Condra-Deeth-Thang line), but lose three defensemen
and All-American goalie David Brown. |
| 32-7-3 (21-4-3
CCHA) |
| 5. |
 Minnesota |
1 |
If the Gophers lose just Mike Vannelli and Kellen Briggs
from this year's team, they'll be a preseason favorite.
With the likes of Erik Johnson and Kyle Okposo on the
roster, that's a pretty big if. |
| 31-10-3 (18-7-3
WCHA) |
| 6. |
 Maine |
1 |
The bad news: Maine loses six of its top
10 scorers to graduation. The good news: Teddy Purcell
could be an early Hobey favorite, and goalie Ben Bishop
will be healthy. |
| 23-15-2 (14-12-1
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: L vs. Michigan State, 4-2. |
| 7. |
 Clarkson |
1 |
Leading point-getter Shawn Weller signed with Ottawa,
but the next seven on the team's score sheet are set to
return, as is starting goalie Dave Leggio. |
| 25-9-5 (13-5-4
ECACHL) |
| 8. |
 Michigan |
— |
Two senior blueliners and sophomore defenseman Jack
Johnson won't return. The Wolverines' most pressing need
is a goalie to challenge the inconsistent Billy Sauer
for the starting job. |
| 26-14-1 (18-9-1
CCHA) |
| 9. |
 New
Hampshire |
— |
Forward Trevor Smith took his team-high 43 points to
the pros and five seniors are gone. But Mike Radja, Jerry
Pollastrone, and Matt Fornataro should form a potent top
line, and Kevin Regan quietly had a superb year in goal. |
| 26-11-2 (18-7-2
Hockey East) |
| 10. |
 St.
Cloud State |
— |
Seven seniors, led by goalie Bobby Goepfert, and junior
Andrew Gordon are done. Filling the gaps will be easier
if forwards Andreas Nodl, Ryan Lasch, and Nate Dey return. |
| 22-11-7 (14-7-7
WCHA) |
| 11. |
 Boston
University |
— |
Among the Terriers' half dozen losses, senior goalie
John Curry will be missed the most. The offense will be
better if forward Brandon Yip can steer clear of injuries
— he was limited to just 18 games this season. |
| 20-10-9 (13-6-8
Hockey East) |
| 12. |
 Massachusetts |
— |
With just four seniors on this year's team, the Minutemen
appeared to be a good bet to return to the NCAAs for a
second straight year. Without goalie Jon Quick, however,
the forecast changes dramatically. |
| 21-13-5 (15-9-3
Hockey East) |
| 13. |
 Miami |
— |
Marty Guerin and Matt Christie were among the four senior
forwards on this year's RedHawk squad. Of greater concern
is whether Nathan Davis and Ryan Jones return for their
fourth seasons in Oxford. |
| 24-14-4 (16-8-4
CCHA) |
| 14. |
 St.
Lawrence |
— |
The suprising Saints will have to replace two of its
top three scorers in forwards Kyle Rank and Max Taylor.
No one, however, will be able to do the things All-American
defenseman Drew Bagnall did for this team. |
| 23-14-2 (16-5-1
ECACHL) |
| 15. |
 Denver |
— |
Forward Ryan Dingle signed with Anaheim, and the Pioneers
lose eight seniors. Still, a core group of talented scorers
— led by Brock Trotter, Tyler Ruegsegger, and Rhett
Rahnkshani — are back. |
| 21-15-4 (13-11-4
WCHA) |
| 16. |
 Quinnipiac |
— |
With just two seniors — one of them being high-scoring
defenseman Reid Cashman — saying goodbye, the Bobcats
will be one of the favorites in the ECAC Hockey League
next season. |
| 21-14-5 (10-8-4
ECACHL) |
| 17. |
 Dartmouth |
— |
Tanner Glass picked up his first pro point with an assist
for the Rochester Americans on Sunday. Dartmouth fans
would've prefered that he played in Rochester for Dartmouth
last weekend. |
| 18-12-3 (12-7-3
ECACHL) |
| 18. |
 Wisconsin |
— |
Four of the Badgers' top five scorers are gone, as is
goalie Brian Elliott. But Bucky may have the nation's
top recruit in British Columbia forward Kyle Turris ,
a likely top-10 pick in June's NHL Draft. |
| 19-18-4 (12-13-3 WCHA) |
| 19. |
 RIT |
— |
Leading scorer Steve Pinizzotto left school with two
years of eligibility remaining, but just about everyone
else is back, including forwards Matt Smith and Simon
Lambert, and goalies Louis Menard and Jocelyn Guimond. |
| 21-11-2 (20-7-1
Atlantic Hockey) |
| 20. |
 Michigan
Tech |
— |
"Wait 'til next year" is the cry in Houghton.
The Huskies lose just three players from this year's team
that finished the season above .500 for the first time
since 1992-93. |
| 18-17-5 (11-12-5
WCHA) |