Opinion

When Do You Rest Braden Holtby?

Capitals vs. Sabres, Dec. 30 2015 (Caps Outsider)

Starting tomorrow, the Caps play 33 games in 65 days. That is just a hair over playing every other day. This can cause fatigue, especially in goaltenders.

Take a look at this (it doesn’t include Islanders game last night).

Via @ineffectivemath
Via @ineffectivemath

According to this, the Caps have a 99.998% chance at making the playoffs. This is calculated by running more than 100,000 simulations. In addition, the Caps are only a combined 47-points-lost-by-the-Rangers or gained by the Caps to officially clinch the  division. The Caps have two games in hand on the Rangers, and play them one more time on Friday, March 4th at Verizon Center.

The question remains, ‘What do you do with your Hart Trophy candidate goaltender who hates not playing?”

This is what I would do. Keep Holtby starting, with the occasional Philipp Grubauer start, until after the March 4th game. It is the first of a back-to-back before the Caps start a four-game road trip in Boston before going to California. Starting with this California trip, I would Have Holtby play the “backup role” so he can get his rest. However, this would not last long. On March 30th, Washington is in New jersey to take on the Devils. That is game number 72. This is where I would have Holtby “retake” his starting role. The Caps have two sets of back-to-backs in their final 10 games which would give him a few game breaks, but that is all I would do.

The Capitals are in a great position to go far into the playoffs. Holtby will have a huge impact on this playoff run. I believe this plan would allow him to rest up while not getting rusty.

When To Rest Holtby

  • something like this (40%, 17 Votes)
  • never (29%, 12 Votes)
  • after we clinch the division (14%, 6 Votes)
  • after we clinch the east (12%, 5 Votes)
  • after we clinch the President`s Trophy (5%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 42

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Brandon Alter

Brandon Alter covers all three teams in the Washington Capitals Organization. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in May of 2021.

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