29+ minutes a game

[JaegerDice]

I look at 29+ minutes a game as more of an indictment of their ice-time management than as a compliment to the player's ability.

I mean, it is impressive from a physical standpoint, but it's going to have a negative impact over the course of a season, let alone a playoff run.

Ideally, you want enough defensive depth to ensure that a player never needs to play that much.

 

[aemoreira1981]

His workload needs to be brought down to the 25-26 minute range. Suter is going to be overworked.

 

[sharks9]

^this, and yeo can't tell an established veteran "no"

Ummmm yes he can. He's the coach. If he doesn't want Suter playing that much then he just needs to start giving him less shifts.

 

[detredWINgs]

No player should play 30 minutes

If a player is playing 30 minutes then something is wrong with the rest of the team

Nick Lidstrom used to break 30 minutes all the time. And all his team did was win 4 cups in his tenure.

 

[vippe]

Nick Lidstrom used to break 30 minutes all the time. And all his team did was win 4 cups in his tenure.

Well.. Lidstrom is a top 5 defender of all time. Not really a fair comparison, and not only that his game made it possible for him to play that many minutes. The more years pass since his retirement the more I miss him.. what an absolute stud of a player.

 

[FVM]

Suter definitely shouldn't be playing 29 minutes a game. When Wild's beat writer Michael Russo has been asked about this, he has hinted to Suter and Parise's mega contracts that last way longer than any coach will, so they have to try to keep them happy. If those stars sour on the coach, he's replaced so much easier.

Personally I think it's an unhealthy dynamic. Coach should be able to communicate to Suter that cutting his minutes a bit is the best for everyone: other D men, play of team and himself too. It's all good that he's a workhorse who wants to be out there constantly, but too much is too much.

It also tells Yeo doesn't trust the 3rd pair which is fair as it was garbage for a long time. But it's been better lately with Dumba there, and they should trade for a decent #5 guy anyway. Would help distribute the minutes more evenly.

 

[jdatb]

Ummmm yes he can. He's the coach. If he doesn't want Suter playing that much then he just needs to start giving him less shifts.

Exactly. But I'd love to see Suter's tantrum if his minutes were reduced.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Nick Lidstrom used to break 30 minutes all the time. And all his team did was win 4 cups in his tenure.

Lidstrom is the best dman of all time

 

[BusQuets]

Yeah not fair to compare to Lidstrom. He was at least couple tiers above any defenceman mentioned in this thread.

 

[KingsHockey24]

No player should play 30 minutes

If a player is playing 30 minutes then something is wrong with the rest of the team

Indeed. No Voynov.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

I'm actually surprised Doughty is that low. I swear he played 50 in a game against St Louis this year.

 

[danyhabsfan]

Subban will soon join them. Played 31:18 min vs the Flyers and has a current streak of 11 consecutive games with 25+ min.
And he has been playing amazing during that stretch so it's not a problem for him.

28:12 average over the last 5 games.

 

[57special]

Exactly. But I'd love to see Suter's tantrum if his minutes were reduced.

Because Suter is known for throwing tantrums....?

 

[57special]

Lidstrom is the best dman of all time

If you started watching hockey in the mid 90's, maybe.

 

[beowulf]

Does not surprise me as both are high end talents that are very important to their teams. Both teams are fighting to make the playoffs so you play your top asset as much as you can.

 

[MAHJ71]

Those are crazy minutes but, if you are in good enough shape to handle it - go for it.

When the player starts to get tired and slow down - time to reduce... simple.

 

[Palffy3314]

Lidstrom is the best dman of all time

 

[Do Make Say Think]

If you started watching hockey in the mid 90's, maybe.

Nope, been watching since the 60's

 

[Vashanesh]

Ummmm yes he can. He's the coach. If he doesn't want Suter playing that much then he just needs to start giving him less shifts.

That's exactly the point. Yeo has flat out said he has a hard time managing Suter's minutes.

Which means Suter plays as much as he wants, effectively. It's one of the many reasons why a lot of Wild fans don't like Yeo. The guy has no balls at all when it comes to handling his veteran players.

I would love to see Suter's PP time dropped a bit. He's not productive, and guys like Scandella, who has a nasty shot, barely sniff PP time because of Suter being over-used.

I think Suter is a great example of someone who CAN play all that time, but this season, he's shown he SHOULDN'T.

 

[Analyst365]

I am absolutely fascinated by how boring Suter's play is. He is amongst the league's best at gliding, holding position, showing no passion, and ... when given the opportunity to shoot ... opting for the wrist flutter towards the net.

It is fascinating and I am NOT being sarcastic.

 

[SB164]

Any one know how many mins on average Pronger played in the playoffs during his stint in Edmonton and the year he won the Stanley Cup in Anaheim?

Edit: "Pronger has averaged more than 31 minutes a game in the playoffs, with a high of 47:17 during a crucial double-overtime win against Detroit in the opening round. Edmonton went on to beat the NHL's best regular-season team in six games, the biggest upset this postseason."

http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2005030415

 

[Seventyx7]

Doughty has been great this year despite the excessive TOI. Sure wish he didn't have to play that much though, thanks a lot Voynov.

 

[rafterman]

Drew Doughty and Ryan Suter

Had no idea both were playing this much.

I know Ryan Suter did last year but with Brodin you'd think he could get a few less minutes.

Just amazing both play almost half a game.

Not dissing other #1 D's like Karlson at 27 or anything.

But these 2 defenseman are just work horses

Well, Brodin and Spurgeon are also both in the top 25 for TOI. It's not because of them that he's playing so much, it's because the 3rd pairing has been a dumpster fire all season. Seriously, that bottom pairing was best when Ballard was on it, think about that...

Suter's 'slow' style lends itself to big minutes, but I would like to see him less on the PP, not necessarily to ease his minutes, but because there are better, more dynamic options on the team.

 

[Nharris31]

Idk but Suter shouldn't have that many minutes when you have Spurgeon, Scandella and Brodin.

 

[Adam Banks]

Any one know how many mins on average Pronger played in the playoffs during his stint in Edmonton and the year he won the Stanley Cup in Anaheim?

He played crazy minutes in Edmonton. He played a lot for us as well in 06-07. The difference that year was that we had Neidermayer eating up a lot of those minutes. Especially since they rarely played together. Scotty typically took more playing time than Pronger, but it also depended on the opponents. Pronger played a lot against bigger stronger opponents like Thornton while Scott would play against the faster or more 'finesse' type players. I remember hearing that Scott would sit on the bench when they put Pronger out there and he'd wait about a minute, turn and tell the coaches he was ready to go and they'd throw him back out there. The third pairing almost never played 10 minutes a game while Pronger/Scott would routinely play over 26 or so and would frequently approach 30 IIRC.

As to the topic, if a guy is in good enough shape that he can do it without slipping in production, then go for it I guess. I do think that you're being a little bit dangerous though in that over the course of a full 82 game schedule, you're far more likely to get that guy hurt when he's playing that much.