ESPN College Sports

Sure, we're still basking in the glow that was the 2004 Frozen Four in Boston. And sure, we're still 170-plus days from the opening of next season. But there's no time like the present to start looking ahead to what the 2004-05 campaign may hold in store.

Who are the early favorites to be the four teams we'll see in Columbus next year?
Leaving Buffalo a year ago, we were sketching out designs for Minnesota's third straight national championship ring. But a funny thing happened on the way to Boston -- actually, enough things to keep us in stitches -- so these candidates will be mentioned with the knowledge that anything can happen.

Michigan: The Wolverines are loaded with talent, and they were an overtime loss away from making the Frozen Four this year, even though their best players didn't have great seasons. If Jeff Tambellini, Eric Nystrom and Al Montoya perform like first-round NHL draft picks -- which all of them will be after Montoya is among the first 30 players selected in June -- they're the team to beat.

Maine: Jimmy Howard is reason enough to believe that the Black Bears will be back, but here's a few more, just for good measure: head coach Tim Whitehead; forwards Michel Leveille, Greg Moore, and Derek Damon; defensemen Mike Lundin and Jeff Mushaluk; and assistant coach Grant Standbrook.

North Dakota: The Fighting Sioux boast Brandon Bochenski and Brady Murray, a pair that could be the best duo in college hockey even without Zach Parise between them. A plethora of big, strong, talented defensemen return to Grand Forks as well, and the goaltending duo of Jordan Parise and Jake Brandt erased a lot of doubts over the course of this year.

Minnesota-Duluth: The Bulldogs lose the best player in college hockey, Junior Lessard, but there's a definite sense that Scott Sandelin's team is still on the upswing. They've improved in each of the four years he's been at the helm. Further improvement would call for a WCHA title and a berth in the championship game, both of which are within reach for the 'Dogs.

No Denver?
The Pioneers had a great run through the NCAA Tournament, without a doubt, but they had dominant seniors at every position: Connor James, Ryan Caldwell and Adam Berkhoel. James, Caldwell and Berkhoel not only led on the ice, where they were each named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, but they also set the tone in a laid-back Pioneer locker room as well. Without that trio -- not to mention Lukas Dora and Greg Keith -- it's hard to imagine the Pioneers back in the Frozen Four.

Then again, three weeks ago, none of us imagined that Denver could get out of the West Regional. And heading into Boston, they were the least-likely choice to take the title home. Head coach George Gwozdecky has proven to be a master motivator and tactician, and he'll welcome a talented freshman class again next fall.

Who could be next year's surprise team, like Minnesota-Duluth was this season?
While the rest of us watched the season come to an end in Boston, a group of players just northwest of the city was counting down the days until 2004-05. UMass-Lowell loses just one player from last year's team, and adds a talented recruiting class that includes Niagara transfer Jeremy Hall (who will be eligible for the spring semester).

Most importantly for the River Hawks, their talented group of sophomores will be juniors, with Elias Godoy and Ben Walter leading the way. Expect classmate Andrew Martin to see a jump in his offensive production as well.

Any early predictions on the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award next season?
Early departures are a fact of life in today's college game, so this list may feature some guys who will be in the AHL or NHL next October. But here's a shot at it:

Keith Ballard, Minnesota
Brandon Bochenski, North Dakota
Chris Conner, Michigan Tech
Patrick Eaves, Boston College
Jim Howard, Maine
Ryan Shannon, Boston College
Jim Slater, Michigan State
Lee Stempniak, Dartmouth
Jeff Tambellini, Michigan
Thomas Vanek, Minnesota

Speaking of early departures, how will the possibility of an NHL lockout impact signing college players?
Based on the first wave of departures -- a list headlined by Zach Parise and Boston University's Ryan Whitney -- it seemed like the looming lockout wouldn't slow the flood of signings. You could see things settle down a bit now, however, since it's too late to get players into the AHL playoffs.

Once the summer hits in earnest, teams are more likely to wait and find out the status of the new collective bargaining agreement. But you could also see players -- like a Thomas Vanek, who would be eligible to receive the rookie salary cap -- make the jump now to get that kind of money, avoiding the possibility that those numbers will shrink under the new CBA.

So who are the candidates to sign?
Ballard, Bochenski, Conner, Eaves, Hugh Jessiman (Dartmouth), Nystrom, Ryan Suter (Wisconsin), Tambellini and Vanek are probably among the most likely. Inside College Hockey has a complete list of Flight Risks we're keeping an eye on.

How else could a lockout change the college game?
College hockey can be a forgotten sport outside its own niche for much of the year, until the Frozen Four rolls around. Without the NHL, it would certainly grab some more attention from diehard hockey fans. Given that there aren't many more diehard hockey fans than there are members of your average pep band, the boost might not be that significant.

In other words, you'll still be able to find tickets to almost every college hockey game, and you'll still have to be lucky to get a pair for the Frozen Four.

Nate Ewell is an editor for insidecollegehockey.com.