Outside of handling how many starts a goalie gets, “load management” is not a phrase used all that often in
Outside of handling how many starts a goalie gets, “load management” is not a phrase used all that often in the NHL. It’s more of an NBA thing. But New York Rangers coach Mike Sullivan plans to make it part of their vernacular this season, it appears.
“If we’re going to manage workloads appropriately over the course of the season, we’re trying to get the best version of every guy,” Sullivan explained Saturday. “If we go to the same guys in every situation, my experience has been that adds up, as forwards, to 22-plus minutes a night, 22-plus minutes a night times 82 games is an awful lot of hockey. I’m not sure we’re going to get the best version of everybody. The pace of the game today and the physicality of the game, that’s very difficult. There are some players who can handle that, but those are unique circumstances.”
This was part if a bigger conversation about giving Alexis Lafreniere consistent opportunities on the top power-play unit this season. Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck appear set as the five players on PP1. But Lafreniere will get chances to slot in and take some of the minutes from them.
Good for Lafreniere (finally!). And, per Sullivan, good for others.
“When you look at the group we have in our top six, our top players also kill penalties. Well, if they’re on the first power play, and they’re in the top six, and they’re killing penalties, and they’re defending the lead five-on-six and then they’re on six-on-five when we’re chasing a game, that adds up to 22-plus minutes. We’ve got to find a way to manage their minutes. That’s big picture stuff that I’ve thought about.”
It’s clear the Rangers will lean heavily on their best players. All teams do. But Sullivan plans to manage minutes, keep these players as fresh as possible over 82 games, and, hopefully, an extended playoff run.
Load management on special teams is one way to do that. Trusting minutes with the bottom six is another. If the third line — no matter its configuration — proves to be reliable defensively and generates offense, extra shifts and minutes can be offloaded there. Ditto for Matt Rempe, Sam Carrick, and Adam Edstrom on the fourth line.
The plan is a good one on paper, as they say. Let’s see if the coach can stick with it during the heat of action once the regular season begins.
New York Rangers news and analysis
For in-depth analysis of where the Rangers are at this juncture of the preseason and training camp, check out the latest RINK RAP podcast on YouTube or listen here.
Competition is good. And it’s certainly ramping up at Rangers training camp, and in the preseason.
Who’s trending up, and which players are trending down, so far in the preseason? Check out our Rangers Stock Report.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan elaborated on his growing relationship with and appreciation for newly-minted captain J.T. Miller.
NHL news and rumors
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all eight shots he faced, playing the third period of a 4-1 Pittsburgh Penguins preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. With that, the 40-year-old goalie officially skated into retirement. Shelly Anderson has all the color from Fleury’s opportunity to say goodbye, from where it all started for him.
NHL.com: The Anaheim Ducks locked up rising star Mason McTavish with a six-year contract worth a reported $42 million. The 22-year-old forward was a restricted free agent.
Forever Blueshirts: Former Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko is out six weeks with a broken hand.
TSN: Andrei Vasilevskiy is dealing with an unspecified injury and hasn’t practiced in more than a week, but the Tampa Bay Lightning goalie is expected to be ready for opening night
Daily Faceoff: Cam Fowler agreed to a three-year contract extension worth a reported $18.3 million, that will keep the defenseman with the St. Louis Blues through the 2028-29 season.
New Jersey Hockey Now: In the midst of a solid preseason, skilled rookie wing Arseny Gritsyuk bumped up to the New York Devils top line to skate with stars Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
Buffalo Hockey Beat: The Buffalo Sabres cut 24 players from training camp, including goalie Devon Levi. That should clear the path for former Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev to make the opening-night roster. Levi will start the season with Rochester of the American Hockey League.
CBS Sports: Jansen Harkins is out eight weeks with an upper-body injury for the Ducks.
New York Post: Islanders coach is not happy with his team’s 5v5 play so far in the preseason.
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