Each offseason, top college hockey programs prepare to lose talented underclassmen to professional hockey.
While many top programs can reload instead of rebuild, losing a slew of players can sidetrack the program’s success for a few years. Boston College is a good example. The Eagles, one of the top programs in college hockey, hasn’t been the same the last three years after losing Noah Hanifin, Michael Matheson, Ian McCoshen, Steve Santini, Thatcher Demko, Miles Wood, Adam Gilmour, Colin White, Zach Sanford and Alex Tuch early within a two-year span.
Boston University has also been hit hard by early departures, which has kept the team on the younger side, resulting in up and down seasons, despite a myriad of talented players up and down the roster.
This season will be no different for the 20 Division I college hockey programs throughout New England. There are some definite flights risks this spring with a few players who are guaranteed to sign with an NHL organization immediately following the conclusion of the season.
