Using the eye test I would say the WCHA was down this year.
Insert the 2010-11 Sioux or UMD teams into the league this year and they probably lose 2-3 conference games all year.
I think with the departures and injuries throughout the leage this year that the biggest difference is the depth teams had. I look at teams 2nd lines this year and most of them would have been 3rd or in some caes even 4th lines last year.