Miro Heiskanen is an elite #1 defenceman in the National Hockey League. After a career offensive year this past season with 73 points in 79 games, I was curious whether he was being overworked because of both the need for his skill on the ice and the lack of elite, trustworthy alternatives for his on-ice presence.
Some players play better when they get more ice time, as they get into the rhythm and tempo of the game and keep the “blood pumping” rather than sitting “cold” on the bench. On the other side, some players benefit from periods of rest to recharge and breathe before ‘giving it all’ on the next shift.