Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Not sure I'd go that far but you're right that I probably slightly underrated the importance of a backup with that statement. I think top 4 defensemen and 3rd line centre are more important as they are playing 100% of the games while healthy. Goalie is the most important position in the game but the backup only plays a quarter to a third of the time approximately.
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The skaters play 100% of the games, but the goalie generally plays 100% of each game they play.
A backup goalie who plays 1/3 of the games is on the ice for the same amount of time as a forward or d-man who plays 1/3 of each game.
Your 3rd line centre can't be playing more than 20 minutes (1/3rd of the game) because then he would be the 1st line centre.
I'm not saying the backup is as important as first line players, but 2nd line/2nd pairing is about where I'd put it.