Remaining Schedule (Resting Players)

[Winger23]

With around 19 games left or so in the season, looking at the standings it appears the Kings won't be catching the Sharks and most likely will not be caught from behind.

Since the Olympic break, some players look as though the break refreshed them, such as Richards, RR etc. I'm thinking it would be wise for Sutter to start giving some of these guys games off, to keep them fresh going into the playoffs. We have Greene just sitting in the pressbox, he can give every d-man a break, especially the older guys Mitchell and RR some much needed rest. I wouldn't mind seeing vets/top players cycled in and out of the lineup, especially during the back to backs. No reason to push hard considering the standings.

Just my humble opinion, but fresh bodies heading into the playoffs could do this team wonders.

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[damacles1156]

With around 19 games left or so in the season, looking at the standings it appears the Kings won't be catching the Sharks and most likely will not be caught from behind.

Since the Olympic break, some players look as though the break refreshed them, such as Richards, RR etc. I'm thinking it would be wise for Sutter to start giving some of these guys games off, to keep them fresh going into the playoffs. We have Greene just sitting in the pressbox, he can give every d-man a break, especially the older guys Mitchell and RR some much needed rest. I wouldn't mind seeing vets/top players cycled in and out of the lineup, especially during the back to backs. No reason to push hard considering the standings.

Just my humble opinion, but fresh bodies heading into the playoffs could do this team wonders.

There isn't a single NHL team that would do this.

 

[Dawdler]

no way, the NHL is built on a Warrior mentality you play every game to win the Cup, this isn't the NBA and if a coach thought this way he'd be a former coach.

 

[Winger23]

no way, the NHL is built on a Warrior mentality you play every game to win the Cup, this isn't the NBA and if a coach thought this way he'd be a former coach.

I never said for them not to try. I'm simply stating that some players should be given the night off here and there the rest of the way. I'm not buying into this warrior mentality stuff. If this were the case every game would feel like a playoff game.

Is it better to go 19-0 the rest of the way, and have players a bit fatigued going in, or go 10-9 and not be as fatigued?

I'm not saying sit out entire lines each night. I mean seriously, this team is night and day prior the break and after, and the only thing that has changed is those who were fatigued and looked like crap prior are now playing with energy.

I just don't see the benefit of playing these guys a lot of minutes the rest of the way if it's not going to result in any difference in their seeding.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Ehh, I doubt it. But, I do remember a couple players being rested before the playoffs back when Terry Murray was teh coach.

 

[SLang]

It's preferable to carry momentum into the playoffs. Sitting players here and there creates confusion in the lineup and destroys momentum. Hard to be a well-oiled machine if you're constantly messing with the parts.

 

[Dawdler]

I never said for them not to try. I'm simply stating that some players should be given the night off here and there the rest of the way. I'm not buying into this warrior mentality stuff. If this were the case every game would feel like a playoff game.

Is it better to go 19-0 the rest of the way, and have players a bit fatigued going in, or go 10-9 and not be as fatigued?

I'm not saying sit out entire lines each night. I mean seriously, this team is night and day prior the break and after, and the only thing that has changed is those who were fatigued and looked like crap prior are now playing with energy.

I just don't see the benefit of playing these guys a lot of minutes the rest of the way if it's not going to result in any difference in their seeding.

I never said they shouldn't try and of course you won't get the warrior mentality you are not an NHL player and going out and playing that many games in a short period of time is not going to produce playoff hockey but its going to produce a guy that's going to go out there and give it a shot despite fatigue or chronic injury

 

[MynameisKing]

I think you'll see some guys get maintenance days closer to the end of season. I'd say about within the last 4 or 5 games. Until then it's just go time.

 

[The Pale King]

Sitting a guy for a game here or a game there hardly takes away from the win every game mentality. I would be fine with Mitchell or Richards sitting for a game or two, resting up for what is sure to be an absolute grind no matter where the playoffs take them. I think that's part of the reason why a guy like Mcnabb was brought in from buffalo at the deadline.

That said, Gabby still has to find his place and continue to get accustomed to everything here, so I don't think him or Kopitar or Williams or whoever will see much time in the press box.

Brown looks to have moved past his knee issues or whatever that were hobbling him for most of the year, which is extremely encouraging.

 

[YP44]

Sitting a guy for a game here or a game there hardly takes away from the win every game mentality. I would be fine with Mitchell or Richards sitting for a game or two, resting up for what is sure to be an absolute grind no matter where the playoffs take them. I think that's part of the reason why a guy like Mcnabb was brought in from buffalo at the deadline.

That said, Gabby still has to find his place and continue to get accustomed to everything here, so I don't think him or Kopitar or Williams or whoever will see much time in the press box.

Brown looks to have moved past his knee issues or whatever that were hobbling him for most of the year, which is extremely encouraging.

I agree with this. vets who can burn out could benefit from a rest. Especially with such a compacted schedule.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

Bad idea to rest players. Right now they are going, if you are going to rest them, it will be harder to get them going again.

 

[Quattro]

With around 19 games left or so in the season, looking at the standings it appears the Kings won't be catching the Sharks and most likely will not be caught from behind.

Since the Olympic break, some players look as though the break refreshed them, such as Richards, RR etc. I'm thinking it would be wise for Sutter to start giving some of these guys games off, to keep them fresh going into the playoffs. We have Greene just sitting in the pressbox, he can give every d-man a break, especially the older guys Mitchell and RR some much needed rest. I wouldn't mind seeing vets/top players cycled in and out of the lineup, especially during the back to backs. No reason to push hard considering the standings.

Just my humble opinion, but fresh bodies heading into the playoffs could do this team wonders.

I agree - to me that's the whole purpose of having extra players. I think it is more of a detriment to have a guy like Greene (an assistant captain) sitting for a month. I'd rotate him in for Regehr, Mitchell, even Muzzin once in a while. It's better for the room if everyone feels like they are contributing. The way it is now, everyone views being a healthy scratch as strictly a punishment.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Let's clinch a playoff spot before we start talking about resting players.

Last month, we couldn't win a game, this month we can't lose one. Which team are we gonna get in the last 15 games?

 

[kingsfansince1967]

I agree with most of the posts here, we will not see a team that is resting it's players in the sense of having healthy scratches, but we will probably see some players having a little bit less of TOI in order to be fresh for the playoffs and not lose momentum at the same time. Moment Um, hockey players best friend.