We’ve known for months that few other teams will be impacted by 4 Nations more than the Golden Knights. Then, William Karlsson and Alex Pietrangelo dropped out, Shea Theodore got hurt in the first game, and Adin Hill didn’t see a second of game action. So, when all was said and done, Vegas had three contributors, albeit major contributors, to the two teams that played the last game of the tournament.
So now, the Golden Knights have to figure out what to do with Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Noah Hanifin now that they are back in the swing of things in the NHL regular season.
At some point they need a break that’s for sure so when are we going to get it to those players, I don’t know yet. That’s something we have to go through with them and do what’s best for the team but also allow them to step away for a little bit. –Bruce Cassidy on TSN Toronto 1050
All three have played in both of VGK’s first two games back from the NHL’s extended pause and the minute loads for each have been in line with their standard season totals. Cassidy said he hoped the fact that they had continued playing through the break would offer each of them some momentum against players who were off the ice for two weeks.
Now, Cassidy is looking for the perfect time to offer them a chance to rest as the remainder of the team, and most of the league, was afforded.
I think we’re playing Saturday, Monday, Thursday, so maybe after the Monday game. So that’s something we have to discuss. I don’t have a great answer for that and the players are going to have to give us some feedback. –Cassidy on TSN Toronto 1050
Thursday’s game does offer a nice chance for Eichel, Stone, or Hanifin to rest. Simply skipping that game alone would give them nearly a week off between last night’s game in LA and the following game, at home on Sunday against New Jersey.
However, Cassidy says the rules in today’s NHL don’t make it that easy, even with the game being against one of the league’s worst teams.
In today’s salary cap world and roster size you can’t just say ‘these four guys disappear.’ So we’ll have to look at it on an individual basis. -Cassidy
The Golden Knights have 24 games left, evenly split between home and road. They’re still comfortably in a playoff position and have their eyes set on winning the division. But, they are aware that holding three of their best players out of games down the stretch is a necessary evil.
Don’t be surprised if one of them sits out Thursday against Chicago. As for the other two, they pay Cassidy the big bucks to figure it out and get it right. Fortunately for VGK fans, he typically does.
