The Sicatoka

Bubs-winkle may have pulled a defense corps out of his hat!

One more D is mandatory to get to 8D and 26-man roster (right now guessing it's not Strathmann and he plays one more USHL year). Now the question: If they run 27-man roster is it 16F or 9D?

I see two rocks (Pyke, Pehrson) a step right in guy with one question -- will the hip hold up four freshmen most teams would beg for Find an insurance policy eighth guy and I'll sleep pretty well for the first time in a couple weeks.

I wonder who Pehrson knows already.

I'd say this (Pehrson) is a signal Strathmann is staying USHL one more season. Go find a 7/8 RHD that has some experience and be done.

Pehrson only has one season left. He fills a need very, very well (RH, defensive, experienced, used to playing with younger guys who'll make coverage errors). A year from now Pyke and Pehrson will both be done.

Big, experienced RH D used to playing with and covering for exuberant youthful defensemen who may make coverage mistakes. ... CHECK!

It's his "Covid" season. I'm willing to bet Michigan's pipeline and dollars didn't support him staying.

Monster get.

So we have Persson and now Pehrson ... Hennessy might go nuts. Pehrson is a monster get.

The dreamwalk with the college hockey gods gets hazy beyond #1.

The more I ponder it the more I think this is a "balance now / balance later" dilemma. Balance Later: Take two more one-year portals. A year from now you have a junior, four sophs, and three freshmen. That's not very balanced but it is what it is Balance Now: Find juniors or sophs to flatten the distribution today, but what'll you have for space in a year for (assume Strathmann and Jubenvill and McInnis). And does Bubs get to make this decision or is it made for him (meaning who's willing to come in from where and when).

After (pre-season) picking DU in 2022 and Quinnipiac in 2023, I wonder if Schlossman is waiting until after the Red crests or is starting now on building his high altar to make sacrifice* to the college hockey gods to learn the 2024 champion. *It's kind of a Norse funeral pyre thing crossed with an Aztec sacrifice involving a gopher ... or so go the rumors. It's all very hush-hush and held on a private pickleball court at an undisclosed location. Still trying to confirm if it's catered by Deek's Pizza.

... or continue to exist. (The budgets are that bad in Illinois and the enrollments are in freefall.)

You've always had a bit of a "Steven Tyler" vibe to ya ...

We're at (for sure*) 15F/6D/3G. Today'd be a great day to round out the defense. *as sure as anything is in college sports today, that is

I can only come up with about 115,546,519 reasons you could be wrong. https://www.capfriendly.com/players/jonathan-toews

But we live in an "immediate gratification takes too long" world.

Imagine making a bad play and skating back to a bench with HC Hakstol and Assistant Coach Toews looking at you.

Captain Serious ...

The projected roster has three goalies and fifteen forwards but only six for sure defense. Today'd be a good day to get clarity on the last two defense slots.

It keeps every option open to him. Smart move.

Jeff Boschee holding on line one for you.

Not a surprise, but UND makes Persson official.