Do you ever wonder how the Blog predicts the season to go? Have you ever wanted to hold us accountable for our predictions? Well, here’s your chance. Bookmark this story and come back in April, or periodically come back and check to see how our takes are faring.

After Boston University men’s hockey made its third Frozen Four in as many years under Jay Pandolfo in 2024-25, losing in the national championship game to Western Michigan, our five writers gave their takes on the fate of the 2025-26 Terriers. 

Will this be the year for BU’s sixth national title? Let’s dive in:

Eli Cloutier

REGULAR SEASON RECORD (34 games): 25-8-1

POSTSEASON FINISH: Win program’s sixth national championship

MVP: Cole Hutson

MOST IMPROVED: Sascha Boumedienne

BOLD PREDICTION: Cole Hutson wins the Hobey Baker Award.

This is the second-most talented Terrier squad of the Jay Pandolfo era, trailing only the 2023-24 team. Pandolfo and his staff have still yet to miss the Frozen Four, and this year’s roster has the flash and the bones to get back and win it all. North Dakota transfer Owen McLaughlin is the only senior on the roster, but despite being even younger than last season, I’m confident in this team’s veteran returners. At this point, juniors Gavin McCarthy, Jack Harvey, and Aiden Celebrini have been there and done that. The BU blue line lacked depth and size last season, and the coaching staff specifically addressed that in the offseason, bringing in freshmen Carter Amico, Charlie Tretheway, and Malte Vass. Offensively, the Terriers are likely to be just as potent and potentially even more dangerous. With returning sophomore Cole Eiserman and the additions of Fighting Hawks transfer Sacha Boisvert and freshmen Ryder Richie, Jack Murtagh, Conrad Fondrk, and co., expect BU to get scoring from all four forward lines. From the blue line, expect more offense this season from sophomore Sascha Boumedienne, who improved as last season progressed. Then there’s Cole Hutson. He’ll be in the conversation for the Hobey Baker Award this year — and for the sake of a bold prediction, I’ll go as far as to say he’s going to win it. He was the Terriers’ best player in the second half of the season last year, and he’ll be BU’s best player this season. I’d think he puts up similar numbers as Denver’s Zeev Buium did last season and potentially even eclipses 50 points from the blue line. Add in a full season of sophomore Mikhail Yegorov in net, and the Terriers — once again — have what it takes to go all the way.

Sam Robb O’Hagan

REGULAR SEASON RECORD (34 games): 24-8-2

POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in NCAA regional final

MVP: Mikhail Yegorov

MOST IMPROVED: Brandon Svoboda

BOLD PREDICTION: BU leads the nation in goals per game.

BU suffered from youth and inexperience during a turbulent 2024-25, and their response in 2025-26 is to… get even younger and even less experienced. The Terriers have 26 rostered players and 20 are underclassmen, including 12 freshmen. You’ve got to give it to Jay Pandolfo and Joe Pereira — in the midst of a raging debate over whether or not programs should build a roster this way, BU’s brass is quadrupling down. And I do think, given this might be the most talented roster in the country and that BU figured out how to win without experience by the end of last season, Pandolfo and Pereira’s plan will probably work. The regular season will feel more like 2023-24, when BU was ranked in the top 3 basically all year, than 2024-25. This group of forwards is unbelievable — at least four of them could realistically be BU’s MVP, as could defenseman Cole Hutson. Instead, I’ll go with goalie Mikhail Yegorov, who completely changed the trajectory of the Terriers’ 2024-25 season when he arrived in January. Brandon Svoboda is the type of player that could be stuck on the fourth line all season and still have a case for most improved. With all that being said, though, one-and-done hockey is nearly impossible to predict. A lot of the NCAA tournament comes down to luck, and I wouldn’t be surprised if BU’s runs out this year. Making four consecutive Frozen Fours is hard.

Henry Dinh-Price

REGULAR SEASON RECORD (34 games): 26-7-1

POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Frozen Four

MVP: Cole Hutson

MOST IMPROVED: Sascha Boumedienne

BOLD PREDICTION: Mikhail Yegorov wins the Mike Richter Award.

Despite BU’s extreme youth — no returning seniors and only six total upperclassmen — the Terriers arguably have the most talented roster in the nation, fueled by a nation-leading 20 draft picks. Everything from Jay Pandolfo’s tenure and BU’s loaded roster would suggest that the Terriers have what it takes to reach a fourth consecutive Frozen Four. Once the Terriers get there, however, I think the youth could lead to them getting outmuscled in a semifinal defeat. BU will score at will this season, with Cole Hutson and Cole Eiserman set to register phenomenal sophomore seasons. The Terriers brought in major reinforcements with North Dakota transfers Sasha Boisvert (the NCHC Rookie of the Year), lone senior Owen McLaughlin, and a flurry of talented freshmen, including CHL transfer Ryder Ritchie. I expect BU to get scoring production from all four forward lines, plus Hutson. The defense should look much improved from a season ago, as Carter Amico, Charlie Tretheway, and Malte Vass add to a unit that should sport more depth than it had a year ago. In the second half of last season, Sascha Boumedienne showed consistent flashes of the potential that got him drafted in the first round of the NHL draft. I expect the 18-year-old to be even better this season, now that he has a year of college hockey under his belt. Mikhail Yegorov will be a brick wall in net, and I see him performing as the best goaltender in the nation. Overall, I think the regular season will be smooth sailing, and a Frozen Four is certainly in the cards. The program’s sixth national championship, however, is something that Terrier fans will have to continue to wait for. 

Hannah Connors

REGULAR SEASON RECORD (34 games): 25-8-1

POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Frozen Four 

MVP: Cole Eiserman

MOST IMPROVED: Kamil Bednarik

BOLD PREDICTION: Cole Hutson leads the country in points.

BU enters the season with a bold roster of 20 underclassmen, making the Terriers one of the youngest teams in college hockey. Last season, the Terriers lacked depth on the blue line. This year, with the development of returning defensemen Sascha Boummedienne and freshman Charlie Tretheway, Carter Amico, and Malte Vass, BU boasts more size and strength. With goaltender Mikhail Yegerov poised to start, likely for the full season, the back end of the ice will be locked down. On paper, all ends of the defense seem to be a step up from last season. Up front, BU flaunts even more talent. I expect sophomores Kamil Bednarik and Brandon Svoboda to continue their consistent performances. Gaining North Dakota transfers Sacha Boisvert and Owen McLaughlin, along with freshmen Jack Murtagh, Conrad Fondrk, and former CHL star Ryder Ritchie, BU could field some of the most productive forward lines in the country. Obviously, I have to mention sophomore star powers Cole Hutson and Cole Eiserman. Cole Hutson, last season’s NCAA rookie of the year, should be ranked among the nation’s top point producers with his two-way playmaking abilities. If he’s on the power play again with Eiserman, they will generate. In the second half of the season, Eiserman shaped into a stronger two-way forward with more defensive prowess. I think this trend will only continue, making him my MVP pick. It’s safe to say BU will be back in the Frozen Four. However, it remains to be seen whether such a young team has what it takes to win it all. In the Jay Pandolfo era, the Terriers have yet to miss the Frozen Four, but I don’t think the fourth time will be when they finish the job. 

Marcus Antonelli

REGULAR SEASON RECORD (34 games): 25-7-2

POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Frozen Four 

MVP: Cole Eiserman

MOST IMPROVED: Sacscha Boumedienne

BOLD PREDICTION: Three players score over five power-play goals.

Jay Pandolfo’s name is written all over the Frozen Four, so it’s a safe bet to assume they’ll make their way back there. The Terriers, albeit younger than ever, are more talented than ever. The amount of game-changers on this roster is unimaginable; you’re sure to see some firepower from the returning sophomore Coles (Hutson and Eiserman). BU will also reap the luxury of a full season with goaltender Mikhail Yegorov in-between the pipes. Other notable incoming key pieces like Sacha Boisvert, Owen McLaughlin (both leading scorers for North Dakota), and CHL phenom Ryder Ritchie will all make this team’s offense very dynamic — hence the bold prediction of high power play production. You can’t forget the supplementary names gained from the players selected in this past NHL Draft — Almost every single one of them has a special intangible; Sacha Boumedienne (28th overall by WPG) was last year’s youngest NCAA player who developed like a fine Swedish wine. Day 2 names include two forward picks: a high-intensity spark plug in Jack Murtagh (40th by PHI) and Conrad Fondrk (50th by NJD), who has flashes of offensive skill. On the defensive side, a physical shutdown defender in Carter Amico (38th by PHI), a solid skater and shooter in Charlie Tretheway (73rd by PIT), and Malte Vass (76th by CBJ), who ‘likes to get his hands dirty,’ and can shut down plays with one battle. All this amazing talent, but it begs the question; do they have what it takes to get over the hump? Nearly 50% of the roster enters as a freshman into a program that has National Championship aspirations. There’s no doubt that this team can win on talent alone; however, one must also consider the possibility of growing pains towards such a lofty goal. It will either hinder them or elevate them.