McCrea is a two-way defenseman who contributes offensively and defensively, and Cornell rarely has defensemen as dynamic as McCrea. Every defensive unit needs players like Smith and Nuttle to balance out the offensive skills of McCrea and Kaldis. Cairns is likely to be in the Cornell lineup when the season begins. On opening night, assuming all nine defensemen are healthy, expect to see McCrea, Kaldis, Smith, Nuttle, Bliss and Cairns playing for Cornell. If Shore, Green and Haiskanen are involved at the start of the year, they should be ready for when, not if, they get a chance in the Cornell lineup.

Source: Daily Sun September 20, 2017 23:48 UTC