We’re more than three months removed from the 2011 national championship game and about two months from the start of the 2011-12 season, but here at Inside College Hockey we can’t resist casting our gaze toward the future. A lot can change between now and the drop of the puck in October, but that won’t keep us from rolling out our 10 For ‘12 feature.

Previously, we introduced you to the 10 players we think will be top contenders for the 2012 Hobey Baker Award. Now, we look at out picks for the top 10 teams headed into coming season. Soon, we’ll give you our thoughts on 10 big questions as we head into the 2011-12 campaign.

No.	Team	Of Note
1.	Miami	2010-11 record: 23-10-6, 16-7-5 CCHA Key returnees: Reilly Smith, F, Jr. (28-26–54); Alden Hirschfeld, F, Sr. (12-14–26); Chris Wideman, D, Sr. (3-20–23); Cameron Schilling, D, Sr. (3-14–17) Key losses: Andy Miele, F (24-47–71); Carter Camper, F (18-38–57); Pat Cannone, F (14-23–37)
The losses of Miele and Camper will put a dent in the RedHawks’ offensive attack, but the cupboard’s hardly bare–Miami welcomes back an elite goal scorer in Smith, an underrated defensive corps, and two veteran goaltenders in Conor Knapp and Cody Reichard. Add in the nation’s best recruiting class, and you’ve got the recipe for a preseason No. 1.
2.	Notre Dame	2010-11 record: 25-14-5, 18-7-3 CCHA Key returnees: T.J. Tynan, F, So. (23-31–54); Anders Lee, F, So. (24-20–44); Billy Maday, F, Sr. (10-17–27); Riley Sheahan, F, Jr. (5-17–22) Key losses: Ryan Guentzel, F (6-33–39); Calle Ridderwall, F (16-9–25); Ben Ryan, F (6-19–25)
Can the Fighting Irish build on last season’s trip to the Frozen Four? The pieces are certainly in place–Notre Dame loses just four regulars from its 2010-11 squad. Lee and Tynan are bona fide Hobey Baker Award candidates, and Maday, who seems like he’s been in school for eight years, is a proven veteran scorer. If the Irish can get more consistency in goal from Mike Johnson and/or Steve Summerhays, they could easily become the team to beat.
3.	North Dakota	2010-11 record: 32-9-3, 21-6-1 WCHA Key returnees: Corban Knight, F, Jr. (14-30–44); Danny Kristo, F, Jr. (8-20–28); Brock Nelson, F, So. (8-13–21); Aaron Dell, G, Jr. (30-7-2, 1.79, .924) Key losses: Matt Frattin, F (36-24–60); Jason Gregoire, F (25-18–43); Brad Malone, F (16-24–40)
Not many teams can lose six of its seven top scorers from the previous season and still be considered a national title contender. But the Fighting Sioux reload, not rebuild. Plugging incoming freshman Rocco Grimaldi into a lineup that includes Knight, Kristo (who we expect to return to his rookie-year form), talented sophs Nelson and Derek Forbort, and INCH Goalie of the Year Dell should keep folks in Grand Forks buzzing about a spring trip to Tampa.
4.	Yale	2010-11 record: 28-7-1, 17-4-1 ECAC Hockey Key returnees: Brian O’Neill, F, Sr. (20-26–46); Andrew Miller, F, Jr. (12-33–45); Kenny Agostino, F, So. (11-14–25); Kevin Limbert, F, Sr. (10-11–21) Key losses: Broc Little, F (19-24–43); Denny Kearney, F (16-25–41); Jimmy Martin, D (7-16–23); Ryan Rondeau, G (27-6-1, 1.92, .928)
The Bulldogs have posted three-straight 20-plus win seasons and have totaled 73 victories and three NCAA Tournament appearances over those campaigns. Only Michigan (84), North Dakota (81), Boston College (77), Denver (75) and Miami (75) have won more games in that time frame. There’s no reason to believe that Yale won’t continue to hold a spot among the nation’s elite teams. Yale’s rise to prominence has been based on continued strength at the forward position, but the big issue for the 2011-12 season will be finding a starting goaltender after Ryan Rondeau graduated last spring.
5.	Denver	2010-11 record: 25-12-5, 17-8-3-2 WCHA Key returnees: Drew Shore, F, Jr. (23-23–46); Jason Zucker, F, So. (23-22–45); David Makowski, D, So. (6-24–30); Beau Bennett, F, So. (9-16–25) Key losses: Anthony Maiani, F (8-28–36); Matt Donovan, D (9-23–32); Kyle Ostrow, F (15-13–28)
Had INCH Freshman All-American goaltender Sam Brittain not been diagnosed with a knee injury that will likely sideline him for the regular season, the Pioneers would’ve been our preseason No. 1. Even so, a ton of returning talent led by Drew Shore and Zucker and a group of incoming freshmen that appears to be among the five best in the nation will keep DU afloat.
6.	Union	2010-11 record: 26-10-4, 17-3-2 ECAC Hockey Key returnees: Kelly Zajac, F, Sr. (13-29–42); Jeremy Welsh, F, Jr. (16-21–37); Daniel Carr, F, So. (20-15–35); Mat Bodie, D, So. (6-26–32) Key losses: Keith Kinkaid, G (25-10-3, 1.99, 25-10-3); Adam Presizniuk, F (12-21–33); John Simpson, F, (8-15–23)
After taking small steps toward the top of the ECAC Hockey standings, Union had a season filled with historic achievements for that program during the 2010-11 season. A veteran team returns with proven goal scorers, including most of the players that comprised one of the nation’s best power-play units last year. Keith Kinkaid was the team’s number-one goalie but opted to sign a pro contract in the offseason. Like Yale, Union’s big early-season issue will be finding the right players to mind the net.
7.	Boston University	2010-11 record: 19-12-8, 15-6-6 Hockey East Key returnees: Alex Chiasson, F, Jr. (14-20–34); Chris Connolly, F, Sr. (10-18–28); Adam Clendening, D, So. (5-21–26); Kieran Millan, G, Sr. (16-10-8, 2.68, .919) Key losses: Joe Pereira, F (15-6–21); David Warsofsky, D (7-15–22)
With its roster returning virtually intact, we expect the Terriers to be more like the team that won six of its first seven and less like the team that played .500 hockey after Halloween. One can make a strong case for Millan as Hockey East’s best goalie, and BU, which was just plus-four in goal differential last season, should get more offense from the likes of Chiasson, Connolly, Charlie Coyle, Matt Nieto, and Corey Trivino.
8.	Colorado College	2010-11 record: 23-19-3, 13-13-2 WCHA Key returnees: Jaden Schwartz, F, So. (17-30–47); Rylan Schwartz, F, Jr. (10-28–38); Gabe Guentzel, D, Sr. (6-22–28); Joe Howe, G, Jr. (18-15-2, 2.94, .903) Key losses: Stephen Schultz, F, (17-28–45); Tyler Johnson, F (20-17–37); Ryan Lowery, D (1-16–17)
Anyone who watched the Tigers dismantle Boston College in St. Louis in March saw the type of team they could be with a healthy Jaden Schwartz in the lineup. Assuming he doesn’t get dinged this year, there’s no reason he can’t put up 70 points. CC has quality depth up front and although there are a few holes to fill on the blue line, Howe may be the most dependable goalie in the WCHA behind North Dakota’s Dell.
9.	Minnesota Duluth	2010-11 record: 26-10-6, 15-8-5 WCHA Key returnees: Jack Connolly, F, Sr. (18-41–59); J.T. Brown, F, So. (16-21–37); Travis Oleksuk, F, Sr. (14-19–33); Kenny Reiter, G, Sr. (16-7-5, 2.30, .914) Key losses: Justin Fontaine, F (22-36–58); Mike Connolly, F (28-26–54); Justin Faulk, D (8-25–33)
Filling vacancies left by Mike Connolly and Fontaine won’t be impossible–based on what we saw from J.T. Brown at the Frozen Four, he’s got the skills to become an elite scorer, especially if Jack Connolly’s the one feeding him the puck. Replacing Faulk, however, is pretty much impossible; defensemen like him don’t come around very often. Will goaltending be a strength or a liability? Both Reiter and Aaron Crandall are veterans, but neither was ultra-consistent last season.
10.	Michigan	2010-11 record: 29-11-4, 20-7-1-0 CCHA Key returnees: Jon Merrill, D, So. (7-18–25); Chris Brown, F, Jr. (9-14–23); David Wohlberg, F, Sr. (15-6–21); Shawn Hunwick, G, Sr. (22-9-4, 2.21, .925) Key losses: Carl Hagelin, F (18-31–49); Louie Caporusso, F (11-20–31); Matt Rust, F (5-21–26)
The Wolverines suffered some critical losses from a team that was one overtime goal from winning a national championship, but there are some nice pieces remaining. Hunwick last season cemented his status as a reliable, albeit unconventional, goaltender and Merrill is an All-American caliber defenseman. With a number of players taking on expanded roles, It might take some time for Michigan to hit its stride; the expectation here is that the Wolverines will be a better team in March than in October.