Hockey East Preseason Rankings

Northeastern players pose with the Lamoriello trophy after winning the Hockey East Title. (Getty Images)

Predicting the Hockey East standings is never an easy task as the league has always had great parity, but this could be one of the more challenging years to date.

A lot of the top contenders lost key players and a few teams from the middle of the pack seem poised to make a leap. Which teams who fared well last year will have the biggest bump in the road this season? Will goaltending derail the hopes of a few of the top contenders? Are a couple of coaches on the hot seat? Who will be the next commissioner to guide the league into the future?

On paper, there is no league team poised to make a run to the 2020 Frozen Four as UMass and Providence did a season ago. However, the season is long and getting hot at the right time can turn a mediocre season into a thrilling one.

Last year was the year of the goalie with some terrific talents guarding the net in the league. Even one of the worst teams in the league had a terrific goaltender. In total, there were 10 goaltenders in Hockey East during the 2018-19 season that were or now are NHL draft picks.