One of the most important questions facing the University of Denver hockey program is not how do you replace three of your captains or two thirds of the Pacific Rim Line. No, it’s who takes over the role of team spokesman.

There’s no Gabe Levin to gab with! The academically and athletically gifted Levin is off to dominate both law school and intramural hockey at Harvard this season. His departure leaves a huge void in the locker room, on the ice and in the Denver media world.

Based upon keen observation, as well as conversations with scouts and others close to the DU program, let’s handicap the possibilities to carry the torch for the Gifted Gabber.

Matt Marcinew: The senior and recently anointed assistant captain shone in his late-season cameo as Gabe’s Canadian correspondent. His humor was nearly as strong as his play in the face-off circle and on the power play, and it was on full display in our One-Timers interview last season. He displayed patience and a quick wit. Our take: Very strong contender

Evan Janssen, Evan Cowley and Evan Ritt: The senior trio, marketing themselves as The Evans Almighty, bring plenty to the table. Cowley can draw up on his experiences at NHL prospects camps as well as offer drumming tips, and he and Ritt bring a distinct Colorado flavor that DU fans will be sure to love. Janssen, meanwhile, not only brings skating expertise, but he can share secrets on growing and maintaining the finest mullet this side of 90s Jaromir Jagr. As a bonus, I’d give him more press if he decides to bring up our shared favorite sports teams. Our take: Very strong contenders

Matt VanVoorhis and Emil Romig: The seniors, dubbing themselves Less is Moore after their departed roommate, offer unique point-and-counter-point discussions typically focused on why Austrians are the strongest humans on earth and why Denver is a superior hockey destination to North Dakota or Minnesota. Our take: Strong contenders

Tariq Hammond, Brad Hawkinson and Blake Hillman: Dubbing themselves the H Factor, the trio of blue line liners, so used to moving backward on skates, takes a unique approach of providing answers then asking questions. Carnac the Great they aren’t but their enthusiasm helps them overcome whatever confusion they may cause for fans. Our take: Might be slightly ahead of their time

Will Butcher: The nickname Captain Serious is already taken, so he calls his show The Butcher Shop and weekly reviews the most heinous hits and slashes from around the hockey world. Don Cherry is so impressed he offers to make it a regular segment during the first intermission of Hockey Night in Canada. Butcher declines, saying his focus is on defeating the visiting Wisconsin Badgers in late November. Our take: We’re not questioning the captain

Tanner Jaillet and Greg Ogard: The upperclassmen goaltenders, not to be outdone by masked man fraternity brother and Evans Almighty member Cowley, pitch a show that is one part fashionista (Tips from Tanner) and one part homage to enforcers of the past (Ogard and Oglethorpe). Our take: It sends a mixed message but might have some traction

Jarid Lukosevicious: No Pioneer was cited more often for his locker room humor than the sophomore forward. Yet because the DU Sports Information Department so rarely let me talk to freshmen I never got a first-hand taste of it. (That is a joke, the DU SID is great to work with) I will remedy that this season. Our take: Darkhorse contender

Adam Plant: The junior defenseman, buoyed by his increased power-play time last season, decides to explore horticultural issues during his weekly show, Plant on Plants. What’s discovered later in the season is that he was doing it for college credit. An incredulous Levin contacts DU academic heads to wonder if he can receive retroactive credit for Gabbin and further boost his GPA above 6.0. Our take: Hopefully Adam and Gabe speak to me again.

Quentin Shore and Grant Arnold: Wait a minute. They’ve graduated, they’re gone. Well, you only think they are. The savvy seniors from a season ago have  tapped into Levin’s burgeoning legal expertise and have come up with a loophole that allows them to play a fifth season of college hockey. They triumphantly return, bringing with them a new show, Q & A, which naturally follows a question and answer format. In the process, Arnold stages an insurgency and becomes DU’s first three-time captain. Shore keeps alive the Pioneers tradition of always having a shore on the roster. Our take: Would not put it past them.

Coach Jim Montgomery: Dubbing himself The Maine Man, Monty decides his message is not getting out clearly enough, in part due to convoluted, inaccurate DU hockey blogs. While we have no idea what he means by that, we can’t argue with him or he’ll bar us from attending practice. Our take: Our line starts coach?