Who sits when Stalberg returns?

Photo: AP

With Viktor Stalberg set to return after this weekend, the Rangers are again left with a glut of forwards, all deserving of ice time. Emerson Etem played a solid game on Sunday, and certainly deserves to stay in the lineup. His play has given the Rangers flexibility to give Viktor Stalberg some extra time to recover from the blindside hit by Radko Gudas.

The coaching staff has a tough decision to make regarding who to sit once Stalberg is ready to return, but this is one of those good problems to have. It gives the Rangers an opportunity to match up against opponents, give veterans a rest here and there, or sit a youngster who might be struggling. Flexibility and depth win in this league.

When it comes to a decision about who sits, that’s a difficult decision to make. The stats guys will jump all over this and say Jarret Stoll should sit. I’m not necessarily opposed to this, but the reason many give isn’t a valid reason at this juncture. He doesn’t push puck possession, but there are four players who get far more favorable deployment who have worse numbers: Stalberg, J.T. Miller, Oscar Lindberg, and Jesper Fast. All four have worse rel CF% as well.

The line of Stalberg-Lindberg-Miller was very solid to start the season, but there’s reason to believe that won’t last. Stalberg and Lindberg have PDO’s that are 10% higher than league average, and all three have on-ice shooting percentages north of 12.5%. For comparison’s sake, league average is around 6.5%, and stars sit around 8%. That line is due for some regression, but it doesn’t mean they are playing poorly or will play poorly. There’s a difference between lucky and good. They are good and lucky at the moment.

Miller has certainly struggled in his own zone, and he’s made some puzzling decisions away from the puck. Maybe he sits and watches a game from the press box? As Pat suggested yesterday, Etem should get a shot at time on that sheltered third line. Perhaps Stalberg goes to the fourth line in his return, and move Etem to Miller’s spot for a game to see how he performs?

Maybe there’s something we aren’t seeing with Lindberg’s game? Or Fast’s? Perhaps Stoll sits so Alain Vigneault can see what he has when he plays all the kids. This is one of those rare good problems to have. There’s no wrong decision at the moment.