Polls and NPI 2026

[arugula]

Let's all take a moment to celebrate that this 10th-ranked team started this season with 12 true freshmen and 2 sophomore transfers including the primary goalie, 5 of the top 9 forwards and 3 of the top 6 defensemen.

That is gelling very well very quickly.

And now we get to enjoy them for the remainder of this season and (most of them) 3 further seasons where they get stronger and more experienced.

We could be at the beginning of a special run.

< surveys Hubei wet markets nervously >

Assuming the transfer portal plus NIL plus early entries don't become a thing

Yes, Giant Meteor is always a possibility.  cf. the serenity prayer.

The poll loses all credibility when Harvard continues to receive votes.

[Jim Hyla]

The poll loses all credibility when Harvard continues to receive votes.

I didn't know that it ever had credibility.

[stereax]

I thought the poll was only useful when we're above all our rivals, and otherwise it's fake.

[Trotsky]

I thought the poll was only useful when we're above all our rivals, and otherwise it's fake.

-- #nopolitics

[Trotsky]

Up to 9 in USCHO, 8 in USA Hockey, along with 7 in NPI.

At this time last year, in USCHO we were in the bottom of RV at 33rd.

[RichH]

Up to 9 in USCHO, 8 in USA Hockey, along with 7 in NPI.

At this time last year, in USCHO we were in the bottom of RV at 33rd.

Fire Schafer

[CU2007]

Does anyone know the "last team in" by computer rankings in the current format? Or how often it has been each ranking? I assume it's something like 13,13,13,14,12,13,14,15,13 etc but was wondering what the realistic cutoff to feel safe might be.

[chimpfood]

Usually 14 I think. Atlantic Hockey steals a bid then one from another league. But I think in 2023 it might've gotten down to 12? I just remember Alaska was the last team out thanks to Colgate beating Harvard.

[upprdeck]

if you go thru the leagues
Atlantic will get 1
B10 has 3 that would have to lose before Wisc at 14
CCHA has two teams 13-15
ECAC has 3 before you get to Harv 21
HE has 2 before you get to Uconn
NCHC has 4

You can see Uconn or Mass, Miami,  Minn St, Wisc stealing bids, Harvard as a stretch

so that means 10-11th is the worst cutoff?

Odds of all those multi bid conf having a total WC is low.
13th is probably safe, but 12th is probably 90% safe

[Trotsky]

There are 6 auto bids.  There are 16 slots.

10th is safe.  Be 10th or better when the frost clears.

[stereax]

10th is safest. 16th is out because of Atlantic. Usually the cutoff is between 13 and 14, because Atlantic takes one and then you tend to get an upset or three in the other conferences. B10, ECAC, NCHC should all have their winner in the top 16. HEA is a mess this year and CCHA is a tossup. So realistically 13+ should get us in. But yeah, 10+ is best.

How about we simply do not lose bad games? I think that will do wonders.

[upprdeck]

if they do the job vs the bottom teams and lose to Quin, getting to the Semis should be enough.  but there is a 1-2 seed there for the taking.

just the BU game flip makes them a 1 seed.