Wednesday, December 10, 2025

UPDATED Polls, BHB's Analysis, BU Hockey's first home; Latest 2026 draft rankings

 

Polls

The split of the home series with Vermont sent BU from #18 to #20 both the USCHO Division 1 Poll and the USA Hockey Division Poll.  The 8-8-1 Terriers have been in both Top 20s for all 11 weeks.

 

● BU Hockey Stats' recap of the men's split with Vermont and the women's split with UConn  includes these advanced analytics and more.

   

 Friday's game                    Saturday's game

 

►As the end of first semester approaches, BHB's Eli Cloutier provides a no-punches-pulled analysis of what may be ailing the Terriers.  

It’s fair to wonder where the Boston University men’s hockey team goes from here. “Here” is a 3-2 home loss to Vermont, and the distinction of becoming the first team this season to surrender three goals to the Catamounts.

The prospect of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament continues to fade, leaving the Terriers needing to win the Hockey East tournament to keep their hopes for the program’s elusive sixth national championship alive.

● Boston Hockey Blog BU men’s hockey is in uncharted territory. Why? And is there a way out?

 ►Friday's Players of the Game 

 

Boston Arena entrance in 1930s - DRS 

                Boston Arena entrance, 1930s. 

►This Saturday's game against Northeastern will be the final game played at Matthews Arena, aka Boston Arena, BU Hockey's first home. Our friend BU Hockey Stats is posting about BU Hockey's early days at the arena on St. Botolph Street and will conclude with a longer piece Friday. (Follow him at @BUHockeyStats)

More Terrier Boston Arena history from BU Hockey Stats

Starting in 1953, BU hosted the Boston Arena Christmas Tournament NU would join as co-host of the event around the time that BU and NU were the sole residents of the Arena The Terriers dominated the tournament, the only team to win more than twice, BU won 6, including the last 5.  [Note: BU was co-champion with Ken Dryden and Cornell in 1966 following the famed double-overtime tie in the title game]

On March 9th, 1971, the Terriers played their final game as the home team at Boston Arena defeating RPI 11-0 in the ECAC Tournament The win capped off a 17 game winning streak at the Arena BU ended their residency 306-158-11 at Boston Arena. [Note: RPI's coach was Leon Abbott, who would lead the Terriers for 1 1/2 seasons.]

  

Jack Parker and Northeastern's David Poile, who skated at Boston Arena were their teams captains in the late 1960s, will reconnect for the finale at Matthew Arena.

 

Looking ahead--UPDATED  

 

The Athletic's Cory Pronman's December draft class update has 2026 recruit Tynan Lawrence supplanting Gavin McKenna in the #1 slot. Pronman notes that "A class that looked dreadful at center a few months ago, though, is no longer the case, as several pivots have been clear risers in the first half of the season," a direct reference to Caleb Malhotra (#13) and Egor Shilov (#26) who have shot up the rankings. His profiles of each one:

Lawrence is an excellent skater with a strong motor who brings a lot of pace and energy to his shifts. He's a very strong puck handler who creates chances on the move. He isn't an elite offensive threat due to having good, not great, vision, but he has the traits to be a great two-way play-driving No. 1 center in the NHL who can play in all situations.

Malhotra is a very skilled center who can make a ton of creative plays. His skating has progressed notably, allowing him to attack with pace. He breaks down opponents one-on-one very well and is a great passer. Malhotra competes very hard, showing a detailed two-way game and potential to play difficult minutes as a pro. He projects as an all-around second-line center.

Shilov is a highly creative center with the vision to run an NHL power-play unit. He's a good skater who can drive play with his speed and skill. His effort level is a minor question. He's not overly physical, but Shilov gets to the inside often enough that it shouldn't be a major issue in the NHL.

 

The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog: UPDATED ... 

                Credit Cormac McInnis 

The Hockey News' December top 50 rankings for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft has Lawrence at #2, Malhotra at #22 and Shilov (photo) at #35. Braidy Wassilyn was an honorable mention 

Elite Prospects' December top 98 includes those four plus Luke Schairer, Brady Knowling and Rian Chudzinski. 

2027 recruit Carter Meyer assisted on 3 goals as the NTDP U17s defeated host team Finland, 4-2, in the opening game of the Vierumaki Cup. The 5-⭐️center from Winchester, Mass., is tied for the U17s' scoring lead with 28 points (10G,18A) in 25 games.

Looking back

Three Terriers—Jack Eichel, Charlie McAvoy and Brady Tkachuk —“co-starred” with Jon Hamm in an NBC promo ad for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

  

● NHL.com Hamm gives United States players pep talk in NBC spot

►We have a Jake Oettinger two-fer. The first recognize his three-win week. In the second, he reveals the favorite memory of his hockey career to date. Can you guess what it is?  

►When Tom Willander scored his first NHL goal on Saturday, he became the 73rd Terrier to score in the league. 

 

 

 

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