BC literally took the entire NTDP top line (all first rounders) and slotted them into their lineup this year. That has never happened before. How can any coach compete against that? No matter who is behind the bench, I don't see any Irish coach capable of recruiting at that level against the blue blood schools.

The problem isn't just more top talent choosing to go the NCAA route than ever. It's all that top talent consolidating at a few schools just in the past couple years.

The bigger problem for us is 4 of those schools consolidating the talent are in the B10. Just look at Michigan (2 1sts, 2 2nds, and 2 3rds on the roster) who won't finish better than 4th in the conference and is currently 15th in PWR. Even if we start landing some of the higher end guys, it'll still be an absolute dogfight in the B10 just for home-ice in the conference tourney.

HE it's really BU/BC separating themselves from others. NCHC it's DU/UND. It's a heck of a lot easier to compete for 3rd in those conferences (and get in the tourney) than it is in B10.

The B10 is a nightmare conference for tourney bids.

It'll be interesting to see how the tourney plays out this year. But the past 2 season, the Frozen Fours have been 3 #1 and a single #2 seed. With the loss of parity, are we in an era where #3 and #4 seeds really don't have much of a shot at winning it all?