8th in overall ice per game. The same amount as every other #1 D-man in the league. he's the best D-man in the world. He is going to play the minutes that the other best D-men in the world play.
He will play more when the team is chasing the game which has happened a lot this year. But the solution to them always chasing the game has little to do with his play. It's to have everyone else going at puck drop so they can get the lead.
In the end he's averaged just shy of 25 minutes a game this year. That happens to be the same average icetime he's had for the last 250 games he's played. His work load is managed in other ways...more off days.
Sure over a large enough span it works out that way. Last few games he had increasingly become the only play driver and his shift lengths have gone up. Had 5 straight games over 27 mins with one at 31. Was only down on minutes yesterday because he was gone for a chunk of the first getting his face fixed. It's not all about minutes though, its about how hard those minutes are too.
The concern is if he's the main focus, playing 28 to 30 mins on the regular (recently), and the team is straight up sorry when he isn't out there. It's a recipe for failure. Quinn playing 28 minutes is nothing like any other defenseman playing 28. He has the puck way more than anyone else in the league, he skates constantly and hard, he takes cheapshots and physical pressure all over the ice. If we play him til the wheels fall off like EDM and McDavid we will regret it for years.
We need to either get a guy or spread minutes around with what we got. We also need Miller back badly so Petey isn't the only possession threat up front. Petey has been excellent (didnt do much yesterday but hes been on a tear) but we need a second line that can pressure teams. The overreliance on Hughes is going to bite us eventually.
For any other defenseman, the vast majority of their playing time is off the puck. For Quinn its all on puck, either he has it or he's pressuring or supporting the person who does. It's not all about minutes either we need to make his minutes easier. Have other people support better and carry the puck to take pressure off him both 5 on 5 and on the PP. Our entire PP is stand around and give it to Hughes and let him do it. Petey and him should be cycling and moving and causing chaos.