Welcome back to Hockey Booth.

We are just coming off one of the most action packed holiday weekends the schedule makers could have possibly dreamed up.

Oh absolutely, and Friday November twenty eighth.

I mean, it didn't just give us a massive slate of games.

It was a chaotic, dramatic collection of outcomes.

And that's before we even get to the massive contract news and some pretty serious roster emergencies.

It was, you know, it was a perfect snapshot of the entire league right now.

You had these historic winning streaks colliding on the ice.

You had front offices making huge business decisions that are going to define their contention windows for like the next.

Five years and next half decade.

And unfortunately, you also had these mounting injury crises that are forcing teams into some really difficult conversations about trades.

So that's what we're going to do today.

We're going to untack all of it, the results, the wider implications, from the biggest comebacks to the most significant deals, right down to the toughest injury.

Updates with how they're affecting play off races and you know, even future Olympic rosters.

We have a lot to get through So let's jump right in with the clash of streaks that really define the night.

Let's start in the state of hockey, a showdown that just felt like an instant classic, the Minnesota Wild hosting the Colorado Avalanche.

And this wasn't just you know, a divisional rivalry game.

This was a high stakes, high pressure battle between two teams that basically forgot how to lose.

It's absolutely right, and you don't see this often.

I mean, the Wild game into this game having won seven straight seven while the Avalanche were riding this phenomenal tens zero two point streak.

Yeah.

So to have two teams on such intense hot streaks, yes, specifically six or more consecutive wins meeting each other, this was only the eighth time it's ever mappened in the entire history of the NHL.

That's incredible.

It really speaks to the level both teams were playing at.

It does and the game itself, the tension absolutely delivered.

Yeah, Minnesota just edged out Colorado three to two in a shootouting that impressive run by the Avs.

But if we're talking about the Wild success, the biggest story has to be their netminder.

Without a doubt, the hero was Jessper Walstep.

He was truly spectacular.

What were his numbers?

He stopped thirty nine shots in regulation in overtime.

That got him his sixth straight victory as a starter, and he improved his season record to seven o two.

Wow.

And what's fascinating here isn't just the sheer volume of saves.

It's the kind of pressure he faced.

Walstet was tested heavily, especially in the third as the Abs just pushed relentlessly to tie it.

Up, and he showed incredible poise right, especially on those high danger chances.

That's the key, that mental toughness.

We've seen young goalies get hot before, but seven oh two is well, it's phenomenal.

How does a run like this for Walstet compare to, say, the start Igor Shustricken had during his Vizena campaign.

Are we talking about similar quality of opposition, similar save percentage.

That's a great comparison.

So Stricken's Zena run was sustained elite play over whole season, right, But Walstead's start here is defined by this incredible consistency despite a really high workload, which is unusual for a rookie run.

I mean, for context, Walstead is sitting at a point nine to four ZERI save percentage during this streak, facing multiple nights with thirty five plus shots.

Wow.

Sjasterkins Vizini year he finished just under point nine three five overall, but his initial month was I mean, it was almost untouchable.

Walstead is showing that same ability to make the timely, game defining save, and.

He ultimately sealed it in the shootout he did.

Matt Bowldy scored for the wild He beat Scott Wedgwood, whose own career high eight game winning streak came to an end.

And then Walsta just slammed the door.

He slammed the door.

He made a crucial glove save on Cale mccar to end it.

That mccar save.

That's the kind of moment that just screams confidence exactly.

And it's even more impressive because the big guns for Colorado did show up.

Nathan McKinnon had a goal and an.

Assist and Landskogg tied it late.

Yeah, Gabrie Landeskock scored that late time goal.

He just out muscled brock Faber was a very good defenseman right at the post to get it past Wolston.

So the wild really had to show some mental fortitude to hold on.

They absolutely did a huge two points for them.

All.

Right, let's move down the Pacific Coast.

We had the renewal of the heated freeway face off in southern California, the Anaheim Ducks versus the La Kings in a chaotic thriller.

California Chaos is the perfect way to put it.

Anaheim managed a truly stunning rally to beat Los Angeles five to four in a shootout.

That was the first of their four matchups this season.

It was and for the Ducks, who've been showing these flashes of brilliance mixed to some really tough losses, this kind of comeback speaks volumes about their developing resilience.

Yeah, they certainly didn't make it easy on themselves falling behind late, but their ability to claw back in that third period was incredible and it was driven by their young decore.

Exactly Pavelo Mintchukov.

He cut the deficit to four to three with just over nine minutes left in the third and that play was pure huff how so well, he corralled a puck that was kind of pulled awkwardly from his skates and still managed to fire a risk shot through traffic.

Mindikoff is showing he's not just an offensive talent.

He can make these high iq split second offensive plays.

And then with just one point three to two left, Leo Carlson ties the game on a one timer with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker.

I mean, that's a massive moment for young player to step up in a rivalry game like that.

Carlson showed veteran composure on that play.

He found that soft spot in the slot, he knew exactly where the puck was going and just executed the one timer perfectly.

It really highlights the synergy that's starting to emerge with their youth movement.

For sure.

We also saw goals earlier from Chris Krider and Olin Zelweger.

Another top defensive prospect right and.

He's already showing he can activate effectively from the blue line.

And Mason mctaviash had two assists, just showcasing that this young core isn't just you know, surviving out there.

They're driving offense against established teams.

For the Kings, though, that's a painful, Oh, it's brutal to give up a solid lead that lead.

Alex Turcott and Joel Edmondson scored in the third.

They got production from their depth, but the inability to close out is a major concern for a team with playoff hopes.

The Kings just struggled with their defensive positioning.

Once the Ducks started cycling aggressively in the zone, they started collapsing too much, giving up the perimeter shots that led to.

Rebounds and eventually the goals exactly.

Goaltending was a factor too.

Bill Husso made twenty three saves in his first start of the season for the Ducks, which was admirable.

Darcy Kemper stopped twenty seven for the Kings.

Okay, Moving across the continent now, the biggest individual story of the night unfolded in Washington, where the Capitals defeated the Maple Leafs four two.

This game had everything, a comeback, an unbelievable individual streak, and a controversy that is rock in the league office this morning.

Yeah, we have to get to that.

Toronto went up too ill early with goals from Morgan Riley and Matthew NY's, but Washington just roaredback, capping a really solid three one zero home stand.

And that comeback was spearheaded by a defenseman who is playing like a genuine MVP candidate right now, Jacob Chikron.

He scored the game winner on just a phenomenal one timer with three point five to six left in the third, and.

That extended his goal street to five consecutive games.

Wait, five straight games with a goal.

That's incredible for any player, let alone a defenceman.

Absolutely, and his overall point streak is now at ten games, which ties a Capitol's defense record.

The numbers Kaikrin is putting up are just staggering.

Give us the breakdown.

He currently leads all NHL defensemen with ten goals in just twenty five games.

That's one more than Cal mccarr.

He is also the second fastest defenseman in Capitol's history to hit that ten goal mark.

So if you project that out, if.

You extrapolate his current pace over a full eighty two game season, he is tracking towards mind blowing thirty three goals and seventy five points.

Wow.

That puts him in historic territory for the Capitols franchise.

Does only four Camps defensemen have ever recorded seventy five points in a single season.

Larry Murphy, Kevin Hatcher, Mike Green and John Carlson.

And the thirty goal mark is even rarer, much rarer.

Only Hatcher and Green have ever eclipsed thirty goals.

And it's not just the offense.

His pairing with Matt Roy has been dominated at five on five.

The supporting cast showed up too.

Anthony Pavilier tied the game on a feed from Alex Ovechkin, which felt like a massive momentum shift.

It was, and Connor McMichael started the rally, scoring a second chance goal and then assisting on Chikrian's game winner.

Tom Wilson sealed it with an empty netter.

Okay, but we have to slow down here.

We can't talk about this game without addressing the elephant in the room, the officiating drama.

Right referee Kelly Sutherland and Dylan Strom.

So Strom had what looked like a goal disallowed just twenty one seconds into the game.

Because Sutherland blew the whistle early, just a clear human error.

The puck was loose and Strom poked it across the line.

But it's what happen next that caused the league wide uproar.

Correct The official was reportedly heard on a hot mic saying I owe you one after that botched call.

And why is that so critical?

Because the NHL has historically shown zero tolerance for any discussion, verbal or otherwise, of evening up calls.

The integrity of the game, the perception of neutrality, is paramount.

We saw this precedent set very clearly just a few years ago, didn't we precisely?

Former referee Tim Peel was fired by the league in twenty twenty one.

He was caught on a hot mic saying you wanted to call a penalty to balance things out.

Exactly so, regardless of whether calls even out organically over sixty minutes, which they sometimes do, having an official caught on tape admitting essentially to balancing the scales is exactly what the league cannot tolerate.

It just raises serious questions about impartiality.

It does, and it left a really sour note on what was otherwise a massive rallying victory for the Capitals.

All right, leaving that chaos and conch behind, let's pivot to a different kind of high stakes drama, the long term business of contracts, where the Montreal Canadians just signaled a pretty serious philosophical shift.

They did, and the Canadians had a great night on the ice too.

They extended their winning streak to three games by beating the slumping Vegas Golden Knights for one.

And that had to be a satisfying win for Montreal.

Hugely satisfying, especially because it came against the Vegas team that has been really struggling lately.

That was their fourth straight regulation or overtime loss and they're now two four to three in their last nine home games.

Wow.

So what was the key for Montreal against a team like Vegas which usually dominates possession.

It was Samuel montabout finding his form again.

He was pulled in his last start, right he was.

Which had to be a mentally challenging week for him, but he rebounded beautifully, stop thirty of thirty one shots against an aggressive Golden Knights offense.

Vegas actually outshot them pretty significantly.

Yeah, thirty one nineteen, which tells you Montembeau was the difference maker.

He frustrated their whole attack all night.

And offensively form mounchere, that's real.

It's the young core that continues to drive the bus absolutely.

Cole Kawfield had a goal and an assist, extending his point streak to six games.

Jiajh Slavkovski also had a goal and an assist.

I heard his pass with something special.

One writer called his pass to Zachary Boldock a dream play, a beautiful cross ice feed that just showcased the vision and patience he's starting to develop.

And Nick Suzuki, their captain, just kept producing.

So this successful performance on the ice provided the perfect backdrop for the franchise's big commitment it did.

Earlier that day, Montreal signed veteran defenseman Mike Matheson to a five year, thirty million dollar contract.

Extension running through the twenty thirty thirty one season.

This is a huge statement move.

Matheson is thirty one, but he's been crucial for them.

He leads the team in ice time, averaging twenty four point fifty a game, which is tenth in the entire NHL.

And he's producing too, four.

Goals fourteen points, and he leads the team with a plus thirteen rating despite playing arguably the hardest minutes against the opposition's top lines.

But I have to challenge this a bit.

Yeah, a six million dollar AAV for a defenseman who's about to turn thirty two locking them up for five more years.

Doesn't that risk mortgaging some future cap flexibility just to accelerate the contention window?

Is that really sound asset management?

That is a very fair and critical question, and on the surface, yeah, it does seem risky, but if you look at the structure of the deal, you can see how they mitigated that risk.

This is where the deep dive into the contract is so crucial.

Okay, so tell us about the structure.

It is heavily bonus laden.

Twenty point eight million dollars of the thirty million dollars is paid out in signing bonuses.

Which is a huge advantage for the team if they ever need to buy them out.

Exactly, when you buy out a contract, the penalty is calculated based on the salary remaining, not the bonus money.

Right, because the bonuses are already paid out.

Precisely, so if they had to buy them out in say year four, the cap hit would be significantly lower and shorter because the remaining salary commitment would be minimal.

So it's an intelligent risk management strategy that also signals their seriousness to Matheson.

Exactly he gave up his first chance to test the UFA market.

The deal has a full no movement clause for the first three seasons, which then converts to a modified no trade.

And it locks in their top four.

It locks in a formidable defensive top four from Montreal's coming window Matheson Lane Hudson, Kiden Gooal and Noahdopson.

It tells us the Canadians are ready to jump right onto the sill of their contention window.

That is a fascinating breakdown.

Now, looking at some other original six clubs, the struggles continue.

Let's head to Chicago and Detroit.

Yeah, the black Hawks dropped their losing streak to five games, falling four to three to the Nashville Predators.

And this loss was particularly disappointing.

Why is that Because the Predators themselves are dealing with significant internal issues.

We know their GM called them out, the environment was labeled toxic, and yet Nashville just looked visibly like the hungrier team.

So what were the main tactical culprits for Chicago?

Individual mistakes feels a little too generic for a five game slide.

It's a systemic problem that's just masquerading as individual mistakes.

The central tactical issue is a non existent second period.

It's filled with defensive breakdowns, turnovers, and especially poor zone control in the neutral zone.

It's become a.

Habit for them, and their power play was a disaster early on, a total disaster.

They failed to capitalize on six straight minutes of powerplay time in the first period 's some minutes, and that came back to haunt them.

When you're struggling to score five on five, your special teams have to be lethal.

On the personnel side, we saw a term in the box score we should clarify for listeners, Corse four percentage or c F percent Right, Ricky defenseman Sam Rinsel had the highest on the team at sixty three point one six percent.

For those who might not track the analytical side, what exactly does that tell us about his control of the puck.

That's a great question.

Corsey four percentage is basically the ratio of shots directed at the opponent's net compared to shots directed at your own net while that players on the ice at five on.

Five, so fifty percent is breaking even exactly.

A sixty three point one six percent c F percent for Rinzl means that when he was on the ice the Blackhawks were attempting shots at a rate nearly twice as high as the Predators were.

In simpler terms, he was a dominant puck possession driver.

So he's having a profound positive effect even while the team is losing.

Precisely, the underlying data shows he was excellent.

But you can also see how much they miss Nick Felina.

Oh, for sure, the team is one four to one without his calming, tone setting presence.

He provides that invaluable leadership that doesn't show up on a score sheet.

They're clearly lacking that emotional stability right now.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings dropped their third straight, falling sixty three to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Yeah, and Tampa was highly efficient.

Yanni Gord scored twice Andrey Vesslevski made thirty two saves for Detroit.

The recurring theme from coach Todd McClellan and defenseman More Cider was unity.

They are beating.

Themselves, Siders said, they're giving up too much easy offense.

Are these from aggressive lisks by young players or are they more systemic defensive failures.

It's a mix, but it's trending towards systemic failures in transition defense.

McClellan highlighted the danger of falling behind ketchup hockey is losing hockey.

Against Tampa, they were constantly chasing.

One of the goals came after self inflicted turnover deep in their own zone.

Those aren't aggressive offensive risks, they're just momentary lapses in defensive awareness that are proving really costly.

And finally, in this section, let's talk about a team that found success by focusing on special teams.

The San Jose Sharks, who beat the Vancouver Canucks three too.

This is a big victory power by their younger players and a much improved power play.

Will Smith scored a power play goal.

Assisted by Macklin Celebraty, who had two assists on the night.

William Ecklin scored on a five on three to tie the game, and then Adam Godett scored the winner.

They mentioned they focused on simplifying their approach on the power play after a tough.

Loss, and that simplification is key.

They got away from the fancy cross eyes passes and just focused on volume, puck recovery and supporting each other.

That tactical shift paid dividends.

And we have to call out.

The exceptional goaltending from Yaroslav.

Askroov Askarov was phenomenal.

He made thirty two saves and Adam Gaudett had high praise for him, saying he's a great personality and excites the team, makes the guys want to fight for him.

That's huge.

It is when you have a goalie who brings that level of enthusiasm and also performs, it just lifts the entire bench.

Shifting gears now to the injury front, and the Edmonton Oilers continue to face just compounding bad news when it comes to player availability.

The injury crisis in Edmonton really seems to be reaching critical mass.

The biggest loss right now is forward Jack Rouslovich.

How long is he out for?

He sidelined for a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury he got blocking a shot against Dallas, and.

The timing couldn't be worse considering his production was one of the few keeping that offense afloat exactly.

Rosslovich was arguably their most effective player, the definition of red hot.

He had fourteen points, nine goals, five assists in his past thirteen games.

Losing your primary secondary scorer leaves a massive hole.

So how does losing him impact their already desperate search for help, especially in.

Goal, Well, it exacerbates the trade urgency without necessarily solving the cap puzzle immediately.

His absence forces them to rely even more heavily on their top six, who have been inconsistent outside of McDavid and drey Saddle.

So they still have to make a tough decision.

They're looking for goaltending help.

Names like Binnington or Jari have been thrown around.

What type of goalie do they need?

They don't just need a starter, They need stability and structure.

They need a goalie who excels at rebound control and communicating with a defense that frequently gets caught out of positions.

Someone who brings psychological stability to the room.

It's exactly not just a high, say percentage.

Yeah, and he's not the only one dealing with setbacks.

Erry Capanon's return is delayed and Jake Walman is still nursing in ailment.

The depth is just getting decimated.

Looking around the rest of the league, several key players are either healing up or newly sidelined.

Starting in Boston, their star defenseman Charlie McAvoy provided his first public message in photo since undergoing facial surgery after taking that deflected slapshot.

He's recovering at home.

He is and expressed his gratitude, but there's no timetable for his return yet.

McAvoy is such an engine for the Bruins.

How significantly does his absence affect their trajectory?

It's massive.

He's a top five defenseman in the league.

His absence, combined with a superstar winger and a top six center also being out against the Rangers, it severely impacted that loss.

They lose their transition game, their top power play quarterback, and their best shutdown defender.

They're still deep, but they can't dictate the pace of the game without him.

Not in the same way elsewhere, the Ducks goaltending depth is taking a hit.

Lucas Doscil's out two to three weeks with an upper.

Body injury, which explains why Will whoso got the start right and.

The krackend loss to veteran leader in Jaden Schwartz.

He's out for six weeks for the lower body injury.

All these losses impact teams heading into that holiday roster freeze.

Now let's pivot from immediate roster struggles to future aspirations the twenty twenty six Winter Olympics in Italy.

We've gotten some very interesting speculation about how Team USA's roster is shaping up.

The excitement is definitely building.

We already know the core will feature generational talents like Jack Eichel, Austin Matthews, the Chickachuck Brothers.

Jack Hughes is considered.

A shoe in, but the sources we're seeing point two a few less obvious names being called locks, which suggests the GM has a very clear hardline philosophy.

This is where that philosophy, which is centered on versatility and grit, really comes into play.

According to tv USA sources, Brock Nelson and Vincent Trocheck are considered pretty much locks to make the team.

That's surprising, it is, but it's because of their versatility.

They can play enter and wing, they can move up and down the lineup, and crucially, they can contribute on both the powerplay and the penalty kill.

So that strong emphasis on utility over pure offensive flash seems like it's setting up for some major snubs.

That assessment is absolutely confirmed by what the team GM emphasized.

If you can't check it's probably not the tournament for you.

Wow.

This tough checking mandate directly impacts high skill names like Cole Kaffield, Logan Cooley, and Jason Robertson.

While they're in the mix, their selection might hinge entirely on their defensive commitment.

So for a high skill player like Jason Robertson, what does meeting this checking mandate specifically look like?

Does it mean cutting back on high risk passes or improving his backcheck?

It's primarily the latter, and it's also about zone awareness in a short tournament on the big ice defensive structure, Trump's individual brilliance.

Okay.

For Robertson, it means two things.

First, vastly improving his back checking, ensuring he breaks up odd man rushes.

Second, meets smarter puck management.

If a chance is in high quality, he needs to chip a deep or cycle, not attempt a high risk pass that leads to a counter attack.

The GM is looking for players who prioritize safety over.

Flash in critical moments.

Yes, and what about Kyle Connor.

He was scratched from the gold.

Medal game last year, a shocking move.

Sources suggest the American team leadership feels they made a mistake in his usage last time.

Given he's having another highly productive season, he's expected back and likely to get a premier offensive role and.

Shifting to the blue line.

What are the perceived certainties and the bubble players Quinn.

Hughes and Charlie mcavoyer on the team, Brock Faber, Jacob Slavin, and Zach Barinsky are considered safe bets.

That leaves some truly elite offensive defenseman sweating on the bubble.

Adam Fox, Noah Hanafin, and Jake Sanderson are the ones on the bubble right now.

I asked a team USA sorts if they'd bring back all eight defencemen from the last tournament, and the response was not likely.

So even a Norris Trophy winner like Adam Fox could be on the outside looking in.

He's reportedly under scrutiny because of a perceived poor showing at the Four Nations face off, specifically his defensive zone decisions.

If the emphasis on tough checking governs the final decision, players like Hannafin and Sanderson, who play a cleaner two way game might jump ahead.

We had a massive schedule on November twenty eight, so let's quickly cover some of the other key results, starting with an overtime comeback in Columbus.

The Penguins overcame the Blue Jackets four to three in overtime, which was actually Pittsburgh's first OT win of the season.

Chris Latang got the winner he did.

And Cidney Crosby netted two goals in the comeback, just showcasing that even at this stage, he remains the engine of that offense.

The Rangers put on a bizarre performance up in Boston, dismantling the injury depleted Bruins six to two.

The Rangers' split identity continues to be the weirdest storyline in the league right now.

It truly is Jekyl and Hyde.

The Rangers were fueled by a fast start against Boston or Timmy Paneren led the charge with a goal three assists, and.

On the road they're the NHL's best team at eleven to four to one.

But that road dominance contrasts sharply with their home woes.

Yeah, they are the worst in the league at two seven to one at Madison Square Garden.

What is the tactical difference?

What changes when they play at MSG?

It's a combination of tactics and I think psychological pressure.

On the road, coach Peter Leviolette uses a much tighter counter attacking system, quick zone exits, using their speed on the rush, and at home.

At home, they try to force their top line matchups play a more possession heavy game.

They hold the puck longer, look for the perfect play and at least to force.

Turnovers, and their defense gets caught flat footed exactly.

The expectation to perform at home seems to create stick handling instead of smart passing, and it's critical now because they play for to their next five at home against top level teams.

One lingering question from that win is the back to back situation.

Jonathan Quick is on IR and.

Igor Schusterkin has been a net for all three wins this week.

My Sullivan was non committal about riding him again or giving rookie backup Dylan Grand his NHL debut against the Lightning.

That's an impossible spot to put a rookie.

In, it is.

When asked, Sullivan just said, I'll tell you tomorrow.

It really reveals a lack of trust in their depth netminding against elite competition.

Other games on the slate included the Flyers edging the Islanders in a shootout.

And out west, the Saint Louis Blues defeated the Senators four to three, capitalizing heavily on defensive mistakes.

David Prawn scored against his former team for Ottawa.

And Brady Trikachuk returned to the lineup.

He did after missing twenty games, and he looked like he hadn't missed a beat, which is a great sign for the Sins.

However, their third period defense was described as a yard sale that sounds painful.

It was a totally yard sale defensively, Puck's loose everywhere, zero structure in their own zone leading to soft goals.

It's total defensive chaos.

And before we wrap the NHL results, we have to acknowledge the profoundly difficult situation involving Clayton Keller, the captain of the Utah Mammoth.

Absolutely Keller played in Utah's loss to Dallas following the death of his father.

Just incredibly difficult, painful news.

It takes unbelievable mental fortitude to step onto the ice in those circumstances.

It truly does.

His teammate Las and Kraus spoke about how Keller is their leader and now it's their turn to support him.

Our hearts go out to him and his entire family.

It puts a lot of the Onyes drama we discuss into perspective.

It certainly does now as we shift to the future of the game, let's look at the next generation.

Checking in on the minor league and collegiate scenes.

In the AHL, the Ontario Rain defeated the Hershey Bears four to three, and the goaltending matchup was notable.

The Onixkopoli against carter Hart.

Right.

Copley made thirty five saves in the way and his coach called him unbelievable on the flip side.

Carter Hart took the loss, allowing four goals on sixteen shots.

A tough night for the Flyers prospect.

And finally down in the NCAA ranks where Boston College is still dominating.

BC earned a five three VIC three over Notre ed Aime, thanks in part to a big game from Bruins prospect James Agans, who is showing immense promise.

What a night of action across the entire hockey world.

You have major contract decisions, dramatic once finish's critical injury news.

We saw Mike Matheson become the cornerstone of Montreal's future with that intelligently structured five year deal.

We watched Jacob Chikrins solidify himself as one of the league's most dangerous defensemen, playing at a seventy five point pace.

And we saw the Oilers continue to spiral, losing their most effective scorer in Jack.

Rosslovich, forcing them to continue that desperate search for goaltending help.

It's those individual streaks like Tycrens that make this game so compelling, especially when they reach those historic numbers.

But considering our discussion about the twenty twenty six team USA roster, which is emphasizing tough checking, it raises a fascinating question.

Well, that's it.

If the GM's focus on checking and defensive reliability truly rules the day, how much will those huge historic offensive numbers from pure producers like Kaikrin or the sheer productivity of Kyle Connor actually influence the final selections.

Does an elite offensive season get overlooked for a safer, lower scoring defenseman.

That's the question.

We have a clear philosophy coming from the management team, and it remains to be seen if purer game breaking offense can ultimately trump that strict two way criterion.

That philosophical battle between offense and defense will define the next two years for Team USA.

That's the perfect question to mull over as we head into the next slate of games.

You've been listening to Hockey Booth.

We'll talk to you next time.