Who would be the best fit for Team Gushue at second?

Team Brad Gushue sent shockwaves when news dropped Thursday that the St. John's, N.L., crew had parted ways with second E.J. Harnden.

The announcement came just four days after Gushue finished runner-up in the HearingLife Tour Challenge following a 10-3 loss to Scotland's Team Bruce Mouat in the final.

Team Gushue, No. 2 in the world rankings behind Mouat, won back-to-back Brier titles, two world championship silver medals and two Grand Slam of Curling titles since Harnden came aboard full-time in 2022.

The move raises several questions, but for now, let's examine who would be the best fit to join Team Gushue.

Curling team changes typically happen during the off-season, so although October isn't the ideal time to switch things up, there are a few interesting options available for the short term at least.

BRENDAN BOTTCHER

The best curler available on the open market. Bottcher has won five Grand Slam titles and is a one-time Brier champion as a skip. The 32-year-old from Spruce Grove, Alta., was left without a men's team this season after third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert chose to go in a different direction and linked up with skip Brad Jacobs. Bottcher is currently playing mixed doubles with Rachel Homan and is also coaching Homan's women's team. Team Gushue already has an Alberta flavour with lead Geoff Walker and newly minted coach Jeff Hoffart from the province.

Bottcher is a natural skip though — having only played the position at the top level — and the team would also take a hit in the sweeping department wherever he'd slot. Although Bottcher has experience sweeping in mixed doubles, it's not at the level that Harnden brought to the team.

ADAM CASEY

Casey was on the team's bench during the HearingLife Tour Challenge and was already penciled in as Gushue's fifth man for the upcoming Pan Continental Championships. The 35-year-old from P.E.I. threw second stones on Team Gushue from 2011-14 and represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the Brier all three seasons.

Casey would be a natural fit based on his past with Team Gushue at the position, however, he hasn't played at the elite level since 2022 when he threw third for Jason Gunnlaugson. He's also coming off of an arm injury but is expected to be good to go when the Pan Continental Championships begin at the end of the month in Lacombe, Alta.

"I know him well," Gushue said when asked about Casey during the HearingLife Tour Challenge. "I really enjoy Adam and like being around him. A good asset to have on the team and certainly at a P.E.I. Slam to have a P.E.I. boy on the bench doesn’t hurt."

KYLE DOERING

Doering wouldn't have made the list if this was the off-season as he had just signed up to play second on Aaron Sluchinski's team. However, Sluchinski parted ways with his Airdrie, Alta., team on Tuesday to join Kevin Koe at second.

Doering has a connection to Gushue as he was the alternate for the team at the world championship last season and earned silver. The 28-year-old from Winnipeg has competed in the Brier twice: as the alternate for Mike McEwen's Manitoba team in 2022 and as the second for Karsten Sturmay's Wild Card Three team in 2023.

It's possible Doering sticks with third Jeremy Harty and lead Dylan Webster and they find another player — or Harty could return to skipping and they shuffle things around — but the timing of these changes happening days apart makes you wonder.

NATHAN YOUNG

Young also has ties to Gushue as he was the alternate for the team at the 2022 Pan Continental Championships and captured the gold medal. The 22-year-old from St. John's, N.L., skipped Newfoundland and Labrador at the Brier in 2022 and 2023.

As a long-term option, adding Young would avoid any potential residency issues should Team Gushue not repeat as Brier champion and have to compete in provincial playdowns.

Unlike our other options, Young isn't a free agent. He currently skips his own team, ranked 103rd on tour, which complicates things. Shifting from skip to another role also carries a risk. Young has less experience than our other candidates and would be a better option at the start of a quadrennial, when teams are rebuilding, rather than a little over a year away from the Olympic Trials.