Here is who The Sporting News thinks the top 20 teams are, with their
comments.
 
1. MAINE.  After coming close in recent years, the Black Bears are poised
   to win it all.
2. MICHIGAN.  The Wolverines return enough key players to contend for
   national honors.
3. NORTHERN MICHIGAN.  Scott Beattie leads an explosive offense that needs
   to score even more this year.
4. CLARKSON.  Chris Rogles and Hugo Belanger could lead the Golden Knights
   to ECAC prominence.
5. MINNESOTA.  The Olympics threaten to cut into the Gophers' depth, but
   they'll still contend.
6. PROVIDENCE.  The Friars will continue to make strides in a rugged Hockey
   East race.
7. BOWLING GREEN.  The Falcons have enough power to again rule the roost
   in the CCHA.
8. BOSTON UNIVERSITY.  The Terriers lost some key players, but strong
   recruiting alleviates the losses.
9. NORTH DAKOTA.  Greg Johnson returns to lead the Fighting Sioux into a
   battle for the WCHA title.
10. WISCONSIN.  The Badgers' firepower should make up for thye loss of goalie
   Duane Derksen.
11. ST LAWRENCE.  Scoring punch could keep the Saints headed toward the top
   of the ECAC.
12. LAKE SUPERIOR STATE.  A young, hungry club might make up for last year's
   playoff disappointment.
13. ST CLOUD STATE.  The return of some top scorers and a huge recruiting
   class should help the Huskies.
14. RENSSELAER.  If any team is to engineer an upset in the ECAC, RPI is
   properly equipped.
15. BOSTON COLLEGE.  Returnees from the Olympic trials could determine the
   Eagles' course.
16. WESTERN MICHIGAN.  The CCHA may be crowded at the top if the Broncos'
   top shooters have a big year.
17. MICHIGAN STATE.  The Spartans' rebuilding process might take another
   season.
18. MINNESOTA-DULUTH.  A couple of big, impressive recruits could give the
   Bulldogs more bite.
19. HARVARD.  Good goaltending and defense should bring the Crimson back
   into contention.
20. NEW HAMPSHIRE.  A solid Wildcat unit ensures Hockey East of another crop
   of strong teams.
 
A lot of this is amusing.  BU #8, having lost more players than anyone in
DivI!?  Likewise BC, losing almost every top player to the
Olympic Team.  The last Olympic year, both BC & BU finished below .500.
This time around, they lost even more players than four years ago.  That's
great news for the other six teams in HE.  Maine loses only 2 players, one
to the Olympics (excepting any possible Canadian players).  The Black Bears
could run away with HE and are a good selection as a preseason #1, but
I'm sure Shawn Walsh would prefer not to see that.  He knows what happened
with BU (last year's preseason #1).
 
UNH is being severely underrated here at #20.  They could battle it out
with Providence for 2nd place in HE.  I also expect them to earn their first
NCAA bid since 1983.  Now Jim L will be upset with me for jinxing the Cats...
 
 
- mike