Our preseason power rankings continue with a look at teams I have ranked No. 12-9.
This issue features in-depth looks at Boston University, UMass, Michigan State, and Western Michigan.
Remember, you can follow along with my complete national preseason power rankings at the link below, which also includes a conference-by-conference breakdown.
No. 12 Boston University
Last Season
Record: 17-17-2
NPI: 28th (52.02)
League Finish: T-6th/11
2026-27 Projection
NPI: 12th (54.98)
League Finish: 3rd/11
Ranking Tier: 3rd/9
Storylines
— Last season was a rare letdown on Commonwealth Ave. BU finished at .500, its worst winning percentage since 2019-20, but that came on the heels of three straight trips to the Frozen Four.
— If the Terriers are going to bounce back, they’ll have to do it with a lot of youth. BU’s roster averages 20.6 years old, which ties Michigan State for second-youngest in the country. Only Michigan (20.5) is younger.
Roster Breakdown
Top 378 Forwards
F1 denotes first-line ranking (No. 1 - No. 189)
F2 denotes second-line ranking (No. 190 - No. 378)
Tynan Lawrence, Soph., F1
Jack Harvey, Sr., F1
Brandon Svoboda, Jr., F2
Ben Merrill, Soph., F2
Ryder Ritchie, Soph., F2
Jonathan Morello, Soph., F2
Kamil Bednarik, Jr., F2
Caleb Malhotra, Frosh., F2
Jack Murtagh, Soph., F2
Top 252 Defensemen
D1 denotes first-pair ranking (No. 1 - No. 126)
D2 denotes second-pair ranking (No. 127 - No. 252)
Charlie Trethewey, Soph., D2
Jax Wismer, Jr., D2
Adam Barone, Jr., D2
Aiden Celebrini, Sr., D2
Xavier Villeneuve, Frosh., D2
Projected Starting Goaltender
Mikhail Yegorov, Jr., 2.73/.904, -0.05 xGa+/60
I’m expecting a bounce-back year from Mikhail Yegorov.
BU struggled in its own zone last season, at times mightily. I watched the Terriers a lot, and too many of their top players showed little interest in doing the dirty work in their own end. That surely contributed to some of Yegorov’s struggles.
I get the sense BU will make a bigger commitment to defense this season, and Yegorov’s numbers should benefit.
