Thoughts about resting players?

[OILFAN #81]

I was just wondering what people's opinions were on resting players for the final games of the season. I have 3 games left in the season and will be looking to rest some key players in those games. The thing is my games are against the Kings, Devils and Flyers. The Kings and Devils are in the thick of playoff races. So this is where my question comes.

What are your thoughts on resting players? Is it my right to rest them and do what is best for my team or should I play a full roster for those other teams fighting for a spot. IMO, my plan all along if I couldn't move up or down seeding wise was to rest players. So i'm going to do what is best for my team but after someone came to me and felt otherwise, I was wondering if anyone else had an opposing opinion then mine.

Thanks in advance for the responses.

[cphlblackhawks]

Do what's best for your team, just like in the NHL

[Sylvanfan]

I was thinking about this the other day. But if your team is in the playoffs and you can't realistically move anywhere, do whats best for your team. I had 83 other games to try and put myself in that position and didn't do it. So long as your roster complies with the watchdog play your backup, rest your stars or what ever you want to do. My only complaint would be if you went over the cap to rest guys who weren't injured to bring up AHL guys in their place type of thing.

I'd be a lot more ticked at bottom teams intentfully not dressing their best players in hopes of getting a better draft pick. As far as I can tell this isn't happening so I give props to those GM's for still trying to compete.

[Young Guns]

Seeing as I'm in a pretty big battle with the Kings right now it would kind of suck if I played a whole season and then get screwed out of a playoff spot by one point because a team decided not to ice there best lineup. I think at the end of the season G gives all the teams a few days rest anyways before starting the playoffs. If the game will not have any effect on the standings then I cant see it being a problem.

[looooob]

^^^ its not so much the rest I'm thinking of but trying to avoid injuries. the SIM is on an injury tear this year it seems, I'd be surprised if I go more than 2 games without someone getting hurt. of course you can't protect your whole team from that, but I may have to make sure at least one or two injury prone guys survive. today we lost langenbrunner in the game against the Isles, thankfully a minor injury

[Hanna Sniper]

Do what you need to do for your team, it's not your job to do someone else work for them

[JiriHrdina]

We don't have a problem with teams resting players. Intentionally tanking like a certain team was doing - that's over the line.

[droopydrew19]

I think if the players condition is not 100 you should rest them if you are fixed in your current position. Sitting guys because you are afraid of injuring them in meanless games is pushing it though I think.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by droopydrew19

I think if the players condition is not 100 you should rest them if you are fixed in your current position. Sitting guys because you are afraid of injuring them in meanless games is pushing it though I think.

yeah possibly, my next 2 games are against teams that are fighting for the playoffs against each other. I plan to play the same lineup (all my 100% guys) against both. the final game is likely to be meaningless for both teams and I may sit some guys for that one

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by droopydrew19

I think if the players condition is not 100 you should rest them if you are fixed in your current position. Sitting guys because you are afraid of injuring them in meanless games is pushing it though I think.

Say you lose your top scorer in a meaningless game and he's out for your first 4 playoff games and you lose the series. Thats like 1 million in next years cap that you're out and lost oppurtunity for more. In the SIM you can't dress Datsyuk and say you'll only use him on the PP or if it's a rough game you won't play him. You're at the mercy of a computer program. It would be different if we still followed NHL injuries, but with SIM injuries on I can't blame teams for sitting their guys one little bit.

[simmer2]

I agree with Drew, you sit the guys that have a CD of less than 100. Sitting guys because they could get injured though? I don't know about that...I doubt the Flames would sit Iginla in the last game, even if we had clinched the division.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by simmer2

I doubt the Flames would sit Iginla in the last game, even if we had clinched the division.

Why did they leave him, Langkow, and Kiprusoff at home for their last game to close out the 2007 season in Denver when they clinched the night before?

[OILFAN #81]

Thanks for the responses guys.

[Knut]

I will likely play my low CD guys down on the bottom lines and 2nd PP/PK units... It will be interesting to see who of my bottom line guys would step up in the playoffs anyways.

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Yeah you have to do what is best for your team, it isn't your job to fight hard in the last game or 2. Your team played well enough over the year to earn this break. I know if I clinch home ice and maybe even if I don't i will be playing my backup so Nabby could last an entire 7 game series if need be to start the playoffs. Likely my big guns will be scratched or just play 4th line minutes.

[Enforcer]

If I ever make the playoffs, I know I would definitely rest my #1 goaltender so he would be ready to play the entire series.

[nyrcrisfer]

1. They're your players so you can do what you want with them.

2. The benefit to resting players, as loob pointed out, has a ton more to do with lowering the injury risk than it does with getting them more rest. A player's condition is just a number. If he's 100 he's not going to feel even better with more rest. Nor will he be rusty when you finally play him again (I don't think, but with the sim who knows). Rest in the sim is only needed when someone is less than 100. But, giving a guy fewer (or no) minutes means a lower chance of injury.

I'll be starting Harding against the Wings tomorrow. I started him a few days ago against the Oilers as well, so those teams can consider it even. Apologies to the Preds, Kings, and Avs, but I have a better shot in the playoffs with Lundqvist in net than Harding. Lundqvist will probably get 1 more regular season game, so hopefully saying so doesn't jinx me...

[OILFAN #81]

We dressed our full team vs the Kings. 2 games left (Devils, Flyers). We will now be sitting players out the last 2 games to avoid injury.