60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Boston University

Boston University

2018-19 Record: 16-18-4 (12-9-3, 5th in Hockey East)
Head Coach: Albie O'Connell, 2nd Year
Top returning scorer: Patrick Curry (13G-13A)
Top returning goaltender: Vinnie Purpura (So.)

Once again, the Terriers start over. A talented group of NHL drafted players replaces another talented group of NHL drafted players who departed early.

Boston University had five early departures. Four were first-rounders. One was a freshman, the third straight season BU had at least one one-and-done.

In all the turnover comes the Terriers trying to return to the NCAA Tournament. After winning the 2018 Hockey East conference tournament championship, lightning couldn't strike twice in Albie O'Connell's first year. An 0-4-1 start saw BU playing from behind, however, the Terriers found its groove. Patrick Curry broke through during his junior season. Freshman Joel Farabee ended up being named the 2019 Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year.

What's New: Besides being in a new spot, on the outside looking in and without a trophy, O'Connell's team has its share of new talented players to get back to the NCAA Tournament after four consecutive trips.

11 freshmen plus two grad transfers join the Terriers. Sam Tucker, part of a Yale goalie platoon the past three seasons, provides stability in net after Jake Oettinger signed with the Dallas Stars.

The biggest name of a group that includes six 2019 NHL draft picks is 9th overall selection Trevor Zegras. The USNTDP product, wearing lucky #13, is one of the top playmakers in his age group. He can play both left wing and center.

Zegras and fellow BU rookies Alex Vlasic, Case McCarthy and Robert Mastrosimone were among the players at last month's US World Junior Summer Showcase. (Although Mastrosimone sat out due to suffering a broken ankle in June.) I could keep going on about the freshman class but 600 words have its limits.

Closing Thoughts: The late-2010s Terriers remind me a little of the mid-2000s Minnesota teams. Both were made up of some of the top players in the age group leading them to success. (Insert your Phil Kessel-Jack Eichel comparison here.) Both were able to get first-rounders but not always get them to stick around.

On a long enough timeline, it's difficult to keep restocking each season without losing any consistency as an NCAA Tournament contender. (There's already another first-rounder in the pipeline in Jay O'Brien, who transferred from Providence, plus two more 2019 picks.) It's a problem Minnesota ran into towards the end of the decade and one that, if the past couple of seasons have been any indication, is one BU's dealing with.

Boston University loses 56 of 99 goals plus its three-year starting goalie plus two top defenders. The opening two months sees series against UMass Lowell, Massachusetts and Providence plus Red Hot Hockey at MSG against Cornell.

Despite pieces that can contribute right away, it'd be a different team if Boston University kept Farabee for a second season. There's a difference continuously going down the NTDP assembly line and annually needing to replace one-and-dones. It didn't work in 2009 and looks to be harder to pull off in 2019 college hockey.

Still, it's possible. A young, talented Denver team made the Frozen Four last season after losing a similar amount of talent early and getting leadership from its small senior class. The Terriers need something similar from Curry, Patrick Harper and the rest.

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