EHM The Blue Line

I'm maybe a dozen games into my season and a bunch of my core guys aren't in game shape still. I've tried resting them between games and putting them into fitness practice as well, but they're still as fat as Keith Tkachunk. Any advice?

No, sorry, I've never experienced anything like that. Sounds a bit weird.

One thing which I learned from SI games, and which holds true to this date, is that you never, EVER, start your preseason sched or more strenous practice without EVERYBODY on your roster being 100%. If your boys are not 100% or at least very near before the preseason starts, cancel all the games until they're fully fit.

Okay...anything I can do if I'm already in the season? Can I send them to the minors?

Maybe you could turn off the practice? I don't know really...

I've had quite a few guys "not in game shape" but it's always been free agents who I guess were sitting nervously by the phone hoping their agent would call and chowing down on snacks...

They are fully healthy, it's just they aren't in playing shape yet which means they may have "rink rust" and their decisions might not be as sharp. It's kind of like when a guy comes back after being out for months from injury.

It's not a serious issue though they won't quite play up to full potential until they shake it off. The only way I think you shake it though is by playing in games. After a week and a half of playing that note will usually disappear. This happens a lot with goalies that haven't played in a long time and guys that were stuck on the bench in the minors for months.

Thundercleese wrote:Okay...anything I can do if I'm already in the season? Can I send them to the minors?

Put 'em all on "rest". How far are you in the season ? Olympic break will likely sort it out in the long run.

Usually if something like this happens I just let my head coach take control of practice. He usually whips them into shape in a few days.