Like many Americans, Brady Skjei was easing into the long Memorial Day weekend: sleeping in, playing some golf with buddies in his hometown of Lakeville, Minnesota, and planning the rest of the summer, which in his case, will be an important one.
The 22-year-old Rangers defenseman, a regular for the U.S. national team which played in the IIHF World Championships which ended last weekend in Russia, will recharge at the family cabin in the Brainerd Lakes region, two hours north, then return to the business of pro hockey, where his bright future awaits.
A lot is riding on the swift-skating Skjei, who the Rangers need to jump right into their starting defense pairings this October, and indicative of that is his off-season schedule.