Coming up with the Hockey East preseason rankings 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.
There are still some good goaltenders in the league, led by a first round pick at Boston College, but there are also some teams whose fortunes could take a huge downturn due to not having a reliable goaltender.
Here’s my look at how the 2019-20 Hockey East standings will shake out come next March:
2019-20 Hockey East Preseason Rankings
1. Boston College
The Eagles have some big losses to replace, but the team brought in a very good recruiting class that should offset many of the departures. Gone are goaltender Joe Woll, defensemen Casey Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) and Michael Kim, and forwards Oliver Wahlstrom (North Yarmouth, Mass.) and Christopher Brown.
The biggest loss by far was Woll, but in comes Florida Panthers’ first round pick Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.). The USA Hockey NTDP product is a game changer in net and should fill the void left by Woll, a second round pick of the Maple Leafs. With his vast international and USHL experience, Knight should have no problem stepping in right away. Senior Ryan Edquist should be able to give him a rest from time to time and fill in when he’s away at the World Junior Championship.
The defense has been a big concern for BC ever since the mass exodus that saw Michael Mattheson, Ian McCoshen, Steve Santini, and Noah Hanifin all leave within a two year span. Fitzgerald and Kim were solid offensive defensemen, but newcomers Marshall Warren and Drew Helleson should be able to replace them well. Both are NTDP products and draft picks of Minnesota and Colorado, respectively.
As far as the returners go, seniors Ben Finkelstein (South Burlington, Vt.), Jesper Mattila, Connor Moore, and Luke McInnis (Hingham, Mass.), and Michael Karrow are back. Finkelstein, who became eligible in January after transferring from St. Lawrence, could have a major impact on the breakout game and power play.
Up front, Wahlstrom really never got going as an impact college player so his loss seems minimal. The top two returning forwards are senior David Cotton and junior Logan Hutsko, draft picks of Carolina and Florida, respectively.
The incoming class has some firepower up front, led by first round picks Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.) and Alex Newhook. Boldy, from Dexter and the NTDP, is a big, smart power forward who was drafted by Minnesota. Newhook is a speedy playmaker from Victoria in the BCHL.
One area that BC needed to improve upon was getting tougher. Assistants Mike Ayers and Brendan Buckley have done a good job in that regard. Last year, the staff brought in Marc McLaughlin (North Billerica, Mass.) and this year it’s Mike Hardman (Hanover, Mass.). Those are two players that might not ever put up huge numbers, but they help you win hockey games by playing hard and heavy.
BC’s top six seems in good hands with Cotton, Hutsko, Boldy, Newhook and whoever else they punch in. The middle six and bottom six will be more reliable with Hardman, McLaughlin and McBain.
On paper, it seems obvious that Jerry York (Watertown, Mass.) and company should take home the top spot in the Hockey East standings.
2. Providence
The Friars lost a ton of firepower to the pros, including top defenseman Jacob Bryson, and key forwards Kasper Bjorkqvist, Brandon Duhaime and Josh Wilkins. Also gone are Philadelphia first round pick Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.), who transferred to Boston University, Scott Conway and goaltender Hayden Hawkey.
If there’s one thing about Providence head coach Nate Leaman, it’s that he seems to thrive when his back is against the wall and his team isn’t loaded with talent. It’s entirely possible that this year’s version of the Friars exceed expectations based on playing a team game and sound, responsible defense.
The loss of Hawkey, who played a staggering 125 games in net for the Friars, will be difficult to replace. The former Canadiens’ prospect had his moments where he shined, but he also lacked consistency.
Junior Gabe Mollot-Hill is the only returning goaltender with collegiate experience. Redshirt freshman Jake Kucharski is a Carolina Hurricanes prospect and has the raw potential to be a reliable starter. The wildcard is grad transfer Michael Lackey, a former goaltender for the NTDP, who played at Harvard. If any of the three can take the reigns and run with them, this Providence team could certainly make another run into the NCAA Tournament. If not, it could be a long year for the Friars.
The loss of Bryson will be hard to replace. His ability to retrieve pucks and break them out of his own zone were about as good as any defender in the college game. The top returning defenseman is senior Spenser Young who does a good job breaking pucks out with his feet and he can also play with some jam. He’ll be a leader on and off the ice for Providence.
Junior Ben Mirageas (Newburyport, Mass.) and sophomore Michael Callahan (Franklin, Mass.) will need to take steps in the right direction. Both are NHL draft picks and capable college defenders. Freshmen Max Crozier, a Tampa Bay pick, Cam McDonald and Luke Johnson all bring valuable USHL experience and different skill sets to the table.
If all the defensemen stay healthy, the PC blue line should be in good hands.
Up front, the team will have to replace four key pieces. Picking up the scoring slack will be Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jack Dugan, who was the second leading scorer last year, and New Jersey Devils pick Tyce Thompson, a coach’s son who had a big year on the power play. Look for Greg Printz to have a solid season as a wing on the second or third line.
Former BC commit Patrick Moynihan (Millis, Mass.) comes to the Friars following a solid career with the NTDP. Always underrated due to the big names at the program, he is a player who hunts pucks, competes hard, and can find his way onto the score sheet. It would not be a surprise if he put up big numbers if given the right linemates.
Parker Ford (Wakefield, R.I.) is another key freshman who could play a second line role. He’s undersized, but he has a high motor and produced in the USHL with Sioux City.
As far as the bottom six, there are a lot of players who will play the game the right way and help win hockey games. Senior Vimal Sukumaran will be one of the leaders when it comes to bringing a physical edge. Matt Koopman (Marblehead, Mass.) and freshman Jerry Harding (Canton, Mass.) are both speedsters who can be forces in the bottom six. Freshman Craig Needham (Medford, Mass.) will almost certainly center the third line, kill penalties, and do a good job on the other side of the puck.
While the Friars lost a lot, Leaman and his staff should have this team in a home ice spot, as long as the goaltending can be somewhat above average.
3. Massachusetts
After the best season in program history, the Minutemen are faced with the unenviable task of moving on without Hobey Baker Award winner Cale Makar and fellow defenseman Mario Ferraro, both of whom moved on to pro hockey following their sophomore seasons.
While it’s undeniable the loss of Makar and Ferraro will be devastating to the UMass attack, there are still plenty of pieces in place to keep Greg Carvel’s team in the hunt for home ice.
The defense will still be a very strong group capable of skating well and moving pucks north. Heading up the group will be sophomores Marc Del Gaizo, who was drafted by Nashville following last season, and Ty Farmer.
Fellow sophomore Colin Felix doesn’t handle the puck or skate as well, but he provides a necessary physical presence to the backend. Senior Jake McLaughlin will be the only upperclassman on the blue line.
Assistant coaches Ben Barr and Jared DeMichiel did a good job of bringing in another solid freshman class. The biggest addition is New York Rangers pick Zac Jones, who is a puck-moving machine who can also defend with his feet. Fellow rookies Matt Kessel, a former Ohio State commit, and Gianfranco Cassaro bring USHL experience.
Sophomore Filip Lindberg parlayed his excellent post-season run into being a draft choice of the Minnesota Wild. Backed up by junior Matt Murray, he should provide a steadying presence in the blue paint.
The offensive attack will be led by juniors Mitchell Chaffee and John Leonard (Amherst, Mass.). Chaffee is one of the top un-drafted free agents in college hockey and Leonard is a draft choice of the San Jose Sharks.
Other notable returners up front include Bobby Trivigno, Oliver Chau, Philip Lagunov, and Jake Gaudet. Rookies that UMass fans should be most excited about are former Michigan commit Cal Kiefiuk, Jeremy Davidson and Reed Lebster. All come in following terrific junior hockey careers in the USHL.
Any pundit suggesting Carvel and UMass will fall back to Earth following the departure of Makar and Ferraro are uninformed. The duo’s departure will be impossible to replace and will take some adjusting to, but there are plenty of pieces left to fill the puzzle and keep UMass in the hunt for a home ice spot in the Hockey East playoffs.
4. Northeastern
Jim Madigan and company lost two key players early. How well the team can do to offset the impact of goaltender Cayden Primeau bolting to Montreal and defenseman Jeremy Davies heading to New Jersey will determine the eventual success of the 2019-20 Huskies.
Primeau was an unexpected departure. It was assumed he’d stay for three seasons and then turn pro with the Canadiens, the team that drafted him. With Primeau gone a year earlier than predicted, the Huskies were left to scramble for a starting goaltender.
Northeastern had to settle on Merrimack grad transfer Craig Pantano, who put up decent numbers for the Warriors, but never fully gained the trust of those who watched him play. Fighting Pantano for playing time will be freshman Connor Murphy, a recruit out of Carleton Place in the CCHL.
While the loss of Davies is huge, associate head coach Jerry Keefe (Billerica, Mass.) has done a terrific job of bringing in talent to Matthews Arena. Senior Ryan Shea (Milton, Mass.) will be the undisputed leader of the blue line. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect and BC High product is a steadying force who has continued to grow into a very good defenseman.
Sophomore Jordan Harris (Haverhill, Mass.), a Montreal prospect, will take on an even bigger role than he had as a rookie.
Of the four freshman defensemen who will get a ton of playing time, two are NHL draft picks. Montreal Canadiens prospect Jayden Struble accelerated so he could graduate from St. Sebastian’s a year early. Also in the fold is Edmonton Oilers prospect Mike Kesselring, a New Hampton alum who played a year in the USHL with Des Moines and Fargo. The other two rookies, Tyler Spott and Jeremie Bucheler have significant USHL and junior experience.
The offense will once again be led by Vancouver Canucks prospect Tyler Madden, a sophomore who played for Avon Old Farms before moving onto the USHL. Reinforcements include Carolina prospect Matt Filipe (Lynnfield, Mass.), Grant Jozefek, Zach Solow and John Picking.
A couple of highly touted freshmen arrive up front. Thayer alum Aidan McDonough (Milton, Mass.) and St. Sebastian’s alum Riley Hughes (Westwood, Mass.) are the two biggest names. McDonough put up big numbers with Cedar Rapids in the USHL and earned a call at the 2019 NHL Draft from Vancouver. Hughes, a New York Rangers pick in 2018, spent 2018-19 with Victoria in the BCHL.
Neil Shea (Marshfield, Mass.), TJ Walsh (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Matt Demelis (Hingham, Mass.) also are in the mix as recruits with plenty of USHL experience. All three put up respectable numbers in 2018-19.
The 2019-20 Huskies will be young and goaltending is a monumental question mark. It’s possible that Pantano exceeds expectations, but goaltending could very well cost Northeastern home ice.
5. Connecticut
The 2019-20 version of the Huskies could be the best one yet as assistant coaches Joe Pereira (West Haven, Conn.) and Tyler Helton continue to do a good job in stockpiling talent.
Outside of the newcomers to Storrs, UConn has a solid base returning from last year’s team to build on for the success of this year’s team. First and foremost, sophomore goaltender Tomáš Vomáčka is back. The Trutnov, Czech Republic, native is a Nashville Predators pick and should be the backbone of the Huskies.
Protecting Vomáčka will be a fairly young group after three veterans departed. The most experienced blue liners are senior Wyatt Newpower and junior Adam Karashik (Ridgefield, Conn.). Freshmen Carter Berger, a Florida Panthers prospect, and Yan Kuznetsov are the two biggest additions. Kuznetsov accelerated to be able to play this season as an ’02, but he could get some buzz for the 2020 draft. Another freshman who is probably in Storrs a year too early is puck-moving defender Jake Flynn (Milton, Mass.), who comes in from Thayer without any junior experience. Harrison Rees, from North York Rangers in the OJHL, could also be a player to watch.
The offense should be an asset for head coach Mike Cavanaugh (North Andover, Mass.). The team lost leading scorer Karl El-Mir, but returns the next five top scorers, including sophomores Jachym Kondelik and Ruslan Iskhakov, draft picks of Nashville and New York Islanders, respectively.
Joining the forward grouping will be a couple big name freshmen, including Minnesota Wild pick Vladislav Firstov and Edmonton Oilers prospect Matej Blumel.
The potential is there for this to be the best UConn team to date. Moving up in the Hockey East standings and dethroning some of the longtime powers is not an easy task, but the Huskies will be there if any of them falter.
6. UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell was one of the teams that I struggled most with in terms of where to place them in the preseason standings. It’s entirely possible that the River Hawks could surpass expectations if the team comes up with strong goaltending.
Junior Tyler Wall, a New York Rangers pick, had his ups and downs as a sophomore following a solid freshman season. Fighting for ice time in the crease will be freshman Logan Neaton, a Winnipeg Jets pick out of Prince George in the BCHL.
The defense lost Mattias Goransson a year earlier than expected as he signed on to play pro hockey in Europe following his junior season. The blue line will be led by three sophomores, Detroit prospect Seth Barton, Jon McDonald and Chase Blackmun. All three skate very well.
Marek Korenčík is the top newcomer on defense. The Slovakian played for his country at the World Junior Championship last winter and had a good junior career in Sweden. Also joining the fold will be Jordan Schulting, a big offensive defenseman out of Coquitlam in the BCHL.
Up front, UML lost its top two scorers in Ryan Lohin and Ryan Dmowski. Back will be Kenny Hausinger and Connor Sodergren (Tewksbury, Mass.). Some highly touted players from the USHL will join the forward ranks. Los Angeles Kings prospect Andre Lee, Brian Chambers (Weymouth, Mass.) and Carl Berglund all come in by way of USHL Clark Cup champion Sioux Falls. Matthew Brown also is a rookie to watch after his breakout season with Des Moines where he averaged a point per game.
The success of the goaltending tandem and a young defense will be areas to look for in the early going, but Norm Bazin has a terrific track record of getting the most out of his teams. This year could be another indicator of how good of a coach he is.
7. Boston University
There are plenty of question marks surrounding the 2019-20 Terriers, including how good the goaltending will be and which youngsters can step in and contribute immediately.
Jake Oettinger left early to sign with the Dallas Stars leaving a huge void in the Terrier crease. Sophomore Vinnie Purpura should take over between the pipes, but the coaching staff brought in graduate transfer Sam Tucker from Yale as a reinforcement. Purpura has shown flashes of being an elite level goaltender, but he’s only played 150 minutes of college hockey.
Defensively, BU will be fairly young after losing juniors Dante Fabbro and Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.), high NHL draft picks to Nashville and Chicago, respectively. David Farrance, who has played some forward, could be moved back to defense full-time.
Also in the fold on the blue line are Kasper Kotkansalo and Cam Crotty, both NHL picks. The newcomers on the Terrier blue line are an exciting bunch, led by three players out of the USA Hockey NTDP. Chicago prospect Alex Vlasic, Carolina pick Dom Fensore and New Jersey prospect Case McCarthy should get immediate playing time. Fensore is an offensive defenseman who should see power play time while Vlasic and McCarthy will help out more in the defensive end.
Up front, the Terriers lost first round picks Shane Bowers and Joel Farabee, as well as Bobo Carpenter, a four-year contributor. Out of the returners, Nashville pick Patrick Harper, Patrick Curry and Logan Cockerill will be expected to step up.
Anaheim Ducks first round pick Trevor Zegras from the NTDP is the top newcomer. Detroit picks Robert Mastrosimone and Ethan Phillips both come in with USHL experience and should make an impact right away. Sam Stevens is a player with USHL experience who should help in a bottom six role.
Whether or not the youngsters can adapt quickly and how good the goaltending is will play major factors in the success of the 2019-20 Terriers. Going up against much older teams around the league will be a tall order. Second year head coach Albie O’Connell has the horses to exceed my expectations, if the youngsters put up a ton of points and Purpura can come through in net.
8. New Hampshire
The Wildcats look to take another step in the right direction under second year head coach Mike Souza (Wakefield, Mass.) who took over for legendary bench boss Dick Umile (Melrose, Mass.).
Reasons for optimism include a defensive core that should be the best its been in Durham in quite a while. The UNH blue line will be led by junior Max Gildon, a Florida Panthers prospect. The Plano, Texas, native put up six goals and 15 assists as a sophomore.
The team’s other top three defensemen are back in junior Benton Maass, a Washington Capitals prospect, sophomore Will MacKinnon, and senior Anthony Wyse, who is primed for a big year as he looks for a free agent deal upon graduation.
Souza and his coaching staff will look to sophomore Ryan Verrier (Reading, Mass.) to take a step in his second collegiate season. Freshman Kalle Eriksson comes to Durham after a solid season in the USHL between Omaha and Madison. Former Cushing defenseman Nolan McElhaney (Natick, Mass.) will likely take a while to adjust after an injury cut his first USHL season short.
The last line of defense should be equally solid with Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.) and Ty Taylor both back between the pipes. The duo are draft picks of the San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively.
The top returning forwards are junior Patrick Grasso, senior Liam Blackburn, sophomore and Ottawa Senators draft pick Angus Crookshank, junior Charlie Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) and sophomore Jackson Pierson.
Former Northeastern commit Robby Griffin (Burlington, Mass.) is the top newcomer up front. However, he’ll take time to adjust to college hockey after playing in the NCDC. A year in the USHL certainly would have done him well. Another freshman forward to watch is Chase Stevenson, a playmaking forward out of Trail in the BCHL.
The Wildcats should be better than last year, but it’s hard to peg them higher than any of the teams mentioned above. Still, there’s a clear divide between the eight perceived playoff teams and the teams that appear to be on the outside looking in.
9. Maine
The Black Bears lost two of their top three scorers, both of whom left early to sign NHL contracts. Center Chase Pearson is now in the Detroit Red Wings organization while defenseman Brady Keeper was a free agent signing of the Florida Panthers. Also gone is Alexis Binner, who left to sign a pro deal in Europe.
While scoring goals could prove to be difficult, one thing that seems certain will be the strong goaltending that should emanate from Orono. Boston Bruins draft pick Jeremy Swayman is back for his junior season while Vancouver Canucks prospect Matthew Thiessen looks to get some time in the crease as a freshman.
Goaltending has long been a strong suit in Orono and it should remain so under the guidance of 1999 Frozen Four MVP Alfie Michaud, who knows the position well, and has done an excellent job on the recruiting trail, especially north of the border, along with associate head coach Ben Guite.
2018-19 leading scorer Mitchell Fossier is back for his final season at Maine after posting eight goals and 28 assists as a junior. Tim Doherty (Portsmouth, R.I.), Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup, Eduards Tralmaks and Patrick Shea (Marshfield, Mass.) are the other top returning forwards.
The defense could be the downfall of the 2019-20 Black Bears. Velli-Matti Tiuraniemi is the top blue liner back from last year’s team. Wisconsin transfer JD Greenway could make an immediate impact, especially in the physicality department. Three freshmen could see important minutes, led by Levi Kleiboer, a Canadian out of Minot in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
From afar, it seems that the Black Bears will go as far as their terrific goaltending tandem can take them. It might be just short of a playoff appearance, but Red Gendron and company appear to be the only team predicted outside of the playoffs with a shot to move into the top eight.
10. Merrimack
Even for diehard fans of the Warriors, the 2019-20 edition of the team could be entirely unrecognizable as second year head coach Scott Borek looks to put his stamp on the program.
The Warriors bring in 16 new freshmen and two transfers who could make an impact. All three goaltenders will be first year college players. Longtime assistant Curtis Carr has moved onto Bowling Green and has been replaced by Dan Jewell.
Merrimack returns two of its top four scorers, including the team’s only double digit goal scorer in sophomore Chase Gresock. Seniors Tyler Irvine and Sami Tavernier are the other key returners up front.
Look for sophomore Jordan Seyfert, a pesky forward who had 10 assists as a freshman, to potentially take a big jump in his second season in North Andover.
The defense will look entirely different as leader Jonathan Kovacevic left a season of eligibility on the table to sign with the Winnipeg Jets. Five other blue liners are gone from last year’s team.
As far as the freshmen, Carr and Josh Ciocco did a good job of bringing in some players that should hopefully elevate the program’s talent level.
Up front, newcomers Liam Walsh, Mac Welsher, Joseph Cassetti and Filip Forsmark come to the Warriors with USHL experience. Forsmark, one of three freshmen from the other side of the pond, had 57 points for Tri-City while Walsh, Welsher and Cassetti also had productive seasons.
On the blue line, Zachary Uens of the OJHL’s Wellington Dukes, Declan Carlile from Muskegon in the USHL, and Youngstown’s Liam Dennison are three very good defensive prospects. Jacob Modry and Zach Vinnell are two other freshmen who could have an impact as well. Another key addition is Maine transfer Patrick Holway, a Detroit Red Wings prospect from Hull, Mass.
Among the three freshman goaltenders, the projected starter is Jere Huhtamaa, hailing from Helsinki, Finland and Jokerit. With Merrimack’s goaltending struggles the past few seasons, there’s a very strong likelihood that Huhtamaa will present a significant upgrade.
With up to 18 new players in the fold, Merrimack might lack consistency, but the roster should be more adept at playing Borek’s style of hockey. Look for the Warriors to move out of the Hockey East cellar in 2019-20.
11. Vermont
Any discussion of Vermont this season has to start and end with senior goaltender Stefanos Lekkas. The Elburn, Ill., native returns for his final season in Burlington after posting a .930 save percentage as a junior.
Despite his gaudy numbers, the Catamounts went just 5-16-3 in conference play. A season opening win at Michigan gave Vermont fans reason for optimism, but it dissipated quickly.
Kevin Sneddon’s club had a couple of strong stretches during 2018-19. A four-game winning streak in December and a 4-1-1 stretch at the end of January into February, including a win and a tie at Providence, were bright spots.
Vermont loses its top defenseman in Jake Massie, who left early to sign a pro contract with the Florida Panthers’ organization. Also gone is Liam Coughlin, a South Boston, Mass., native, who graduated.
UVM returns five of its top six scorers, but none of those players had more than 21 points nor hit double digits for goal totals. Junior Max Kaufman, senior Derek Lodermeier, sophomore Joey Cipollone and junior Alex Esposito (West Haven, Conn.) all return among the top scorers.
Two players who could make a jump in production are sophomore John DeRoche (Lynnfield, Mass.) and junior Bryce Misley, a Minnesota Wild prospect, the only NHL draft pick on the team.
The top newcomer is freshman William Lemay, who led the Alberta Junior Hockey League in points and assists. Playing for AJHL champion, Brooks Bandits, Lemay had 43 goals and 70 assists for 113 points in 73 games.
Other rookies of note are Riley McCutcheon, a highly coveted forward out of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Cobourg Cougars, and defenseman Simon Boyko, a junior hockey teammate of Lemay. Former Loomis Chaffee defenseman Andrew Lucas, and former Salisbury forward Jacques Bouquot, who was previously committed to Boston College, also join the fold.
Vermont’s success almost certainly hinges on the effectiveness of Lekkas, an undersized goaltender who has proven he can be a game changer at the collegiate level.
