Men’s hockey lands No. 2 spot in Hockey East preseason poll, trails No. 1 BC

If the Boston University men’s hockey team learned anything from last year, it’s that preseason polls matter little by season’s end.

Last year, the Terriers were ranked in the middle of the pack at No. 6 in the Hockey East preseason coaches’ poll. Seven months later, they were playing for the national championship.

Now, at this year’s Hockey East Media Day on Monday at TD Garden, the defending conference regular-season and tournament champions were ranked second by the coaches in the conference, behind only rival Boston College.

BU received 107 total points (three first-place votes), falling eight points shy of top-ranked BC, which garnered 115 points and seven first-place votes. In rounding out the top four teams, defending national champion Providence College ranked third with 95 points (two first-place votes), while University of Massachusetts Lowell came in fourth with 92 points.

“We try not to look at it too much,” said senior assistant captain Danny O’Regan of the polls. “We know last year we had a lower rank in the poll. It turned out to be a pretty good year for us, so we’re not going to look into it too much.”

Head coach David Quinn, now in his third year leading BU, said he’s not taking too much stock in what the polls look like, either.

“It’s a great talking point and it’s something that needs to be done, I understand that, but we were picked sixth last year,” Quinn said of the polls. “I can honestly tell you, you look at it for three seconds and you move on and you don’t pay attention to it because it has zero significance to it.”

What does have importance for Quinn, though, is the here and now of this year’s team. Gone are top forwards Jack Eichel, Evan Rodrigues and Cason Hohmann. Gone is starting goaltender Matt O’Connor. Gone is associate head coach Steve Greeley.

But that’s all in the past. It’s about moving on and adjusting to the obstacles that are ahead, the assistant captains said.

“We want to know what we did right last year to emulate that style and the success we had last year,” said senior assistant captain Matt Lane. “But at the same time, we don’t want to harp too much on it, or think about it too much because it is a fresh start.”

BU’s bench boss had the same sentiments about going into this season.

“The year ended not the way we wanted it to, but you’ve got to move on,” Quinn said. “It’s a whole new team, I know we’ve got a lot of familiar faces back, a lot of guys returning, but it’s a whole new year.”

One of those players returning to the lineup is senior goalie Sean Maguire. After missing a year because of a medical redshirt, Maguire, who has a career .923 save percentage at BU, figures to be in the goaltending equation.

With sophomore Connor LaCouvee returning, however, and freshman Max Prawdzik joining the team, Quinn was hesitant to say who would get the primary action in the crease. LaCouvee might be the early front-runner because of his experience last year and Maguire’s year-long absence. Prawdzik, who has a long relationship with goaltenders coach Mike Geragosian, also has a chance to see time in the crease, Quinn said.

“My plan is to play the best goalie,” Quinn said. “That’s my plan. We pay attention every day in practice. We have depth in the goaltending position and the guy that’s playing the best will play.”

Another question mark, at least early this season, will be how the defensive corps handles itself without senior captain Matt Grzelcyk, who is recovering from offseason ACL surgery, according to Joe Haggerty of Comcast SportsNet New England. Quinn said there is no exact timetable for Grzelcyk, but he is skating and is ahead of schedule. Even without the stability of the 2015 All-American defenseman, Quinn believes his blue liners will be fine in his absence.

“It’s certainly comforting to know you have five returning defensemen and a freshman like Charlie McAvoy, even Shane Switzer, he’s a good player,” Quinn said. “We’re very confident and comfortable with our depth at the blue line.”

The group of fresh and old faces has not spent much time on the ice just yet, but so far, Quinn has liked what he has seen.

“They certainly have worked hard in the few weeks we have been at school,” Quinn said. “I love their attitude and work ethic in the weight room and when they do skate. I love the feel from a team perspective.”