[DeluxeMoustache]

^ manageable?

Let me tell you a story.

There was a guy who got traded to a team one year, mid season. He had never played more than 22 games in a season. The coach gave him 17 of the next 19, after which he unfortunately sprained an MCL (not a fatigue related injury). When he came back he played 22 of 28. He played very well and the coach, recognizing this, played him in over 80 percent of the games for which he was available.

Then he backstopped his team to the Stanley Cup Finals. Some believe he should have won (it was in).

For the next 7 seasons he played at least 70 games a year. Won a Vezina trophy as well.

There was none of this ‘managing workload’ nonsense. He was the best goalie by far and they played him.

The only thing they didn’t have was an ego of a broken down warrior to massage. And if they did, Darryl would do what he had to do. He was the boss

Rittich has only let in more than 3 goals twice in all of his starts. Once in OT, and once with three goals last touched by his own team. Three of his losses were when his team failed to score.

With the other guy, it’s a coin toss if you do or do not have at least a softie when he starts. The guy is 36, injury prone, and inconsistent. And not only are some goals bad, the timing is worse. At this point, you can only hope (not expect) that he gives you a solid start, and hope is not a strategy.

It is obvious to me and to many that it is time to give Rittich the vast majority of the starts.

No benefit to managing Rittich here, if leadership wants to do what’s best for the team based on available evidence.