So as the season chugs along here, I have noticed one thing with a few teams and players which I had a legitimate question for the League as whole. I mean having only being a part of the league for what is now my 4th season, I am wondering what the exact stance is, and intent for the league when it comes to the dreaded subject of....

PLAYING TIME FOR PLAYERS!

Yes, this again. Why now? Well I will show you, and want to know peoples stances, ways to fix it if there is any intent to, or lets just screw it and play as much as we want. The reason I ask is cause I am wondering what sort of league this is trying to be overall. Is it strictly a for fun, "SHL is it's own thing, with it's own rules" sort of deal? Or are we trying to maybe be a bit like the NHL? If we are, then we are really starting to stray further away from that idea. I won't get started on my wish for an 82 game season for potentially comparable stats, but playing time will be the subject of this post.

The Average MP for a top end Forward in the NHL is currently:
21:40 Mins Per Game - Ryan O'Reilly
21:35 - Ryan Kesler
21:30 - Patrick Kane
21:20 - Vincent Trocheck
21:08 - Connor McDavid

The Average MP for a top end Defenseman is.:
27:25 - Dustin Byfuglien
27:14 - Drew Doughty
27:14 - Ryan Suter
26:58 - Rasmus Ristolainen
26:53 - Erik Karlsson

SHL Top 10 Forwards
28.97 - Theo Kane (EDM) - 60% 5v5 - 65% PP - 50% PK
28.92 - Ivan Koroviev (EDM) - 60% 5v5 - 65% PP - 50% PK
28.11 - Kian Hamilton (MAN)- 47% 5v5 - 45% PP - 50% PK
28.21 - VLAD McZherl (MAN) - 53% 5v5 - 55% PP - 50% PK
27.84 - Harry Hans (MAN) - 53% 5v5 - 55% PP - 50% PK
27.06 - Nikolaus Scholz (EDM) - 40% 5v5 - 35% PP - 50% PK
26.86 - Ace Redding (MAN) - 47% 5v5 - 45% PP - 50% PK
26.67 - Lord Pretty Flacko (MIN) - 55% 5v5 - 50% PP - 50% PK
26.04 - Sven Karlsson (TOR) - 51% 5v5 - 40% PP - 55% PK
25.13 - Pedro Sarantez (EDM) - 60% 5v5 - 65% PP - 50% PK

SHL Top 5 Defense
29.04 - Wyatt Wollker (MAN) - 50% 5v5 - 55% PP - 50% PK
28.75 - Alonzo Garbanzo (MIN) - 55% 5v5 - 50% PP - 60% PK
26.89 - Bubba Nuck (CGY) - 50% 5v5 - 60% PP - 50% PK
26.83 - Michael Boychuk (CGY) - 50% 5v5 - 40% PP - 50% PK
26.86 - Pal Vikingstod (MAN) - 50% 5v5 - 45% PP - 50% PK


Now I had someone suggest that, well with only 50 games played thinking about this as the same time frame players playing less games (than 82) would be able to play more. But comparing it to the actual SHL (european league) where they actually play roughly 50 games a year (52) they actually averaged LESS ice time per player.

So the question is. Do we not give a shit? Should we enable some sort of restriction on playing % per player? (min/max) Because I feel like this is impacting the stats being generated when other teams are running at least 9 forwards and 5-6 D. It's inflating stats, and being incredibly unrealistic, and really leaves no point to running teams with more than 6 forwards, 4 D and a goalie. Might as well reduce rosters to 3 forward lines, and 4 D at that point. The defense in this case seem mostly okay to be honest with just the 2 stand outs.

A suggestion for the reduce it camp. Set the minimum required for players on the roster to play 5v5 at a hard 10% and max of 50%.

Special teams + 5v5 time together cannot go over 120% when added together. Would allow something like 40% 5v5, 40% PP, 40% PK. is more than reasonable. still would most likely log the most 5v5 time on team, and be on 2nd pairings of special teams.

But as I said, it all depends what this league is aiming for. More a realism approach for comparable playing time, or meh, it's a sim league go with it. Thoughts?