Resting veterans as the season closes

In need of a rest?

With Dylan McIlrath healthy, the Rangers now have a full roster ready for the playoffs. While it is likely that McIlrath and Oscar Lindberg remain healthy scratches until a spot –or home ice– is clinched, it is equally likely that Alain Vigneault rests some of his older players in preparation for the playoffs.

Dan Boyle and Dan Girardi are the two immediate players that come to mind when it comes to resting veterans. Girardi is playing on one healthy knee and Boyle is about 800 years old. It helps that McIlrath is a right-handed shot, so he can slide right into the lineup without any major changes.

It also wouldn’t be a surprise if Brady Skjei is called up with a few games remaining to give some of the lefties a night off. The focus would be on Marc Staal, who has struggled mightily this year, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ryan McDonagh and Keith Yandle get nights off to rest up.

It’s not just the defense that needs a break, some of the forwards could use a night off to rest up. Tanner Glass jokes aside, Dominic Moore could probably use a night off, and Lindberg is a perfect fill in at center for a few games. The flexibility of Lindberg, Kevin Hayes, and Eric Staal would help with lineup decisions if any other players need rest as well.

The Rangers will need every advantage they can muster in order to make a run in the playoffs this year, and resting some of their older players is one such advantage. The risk here is that by resting some of their veterans, they might sacrifice home ice advantage to the streaking Penguins.

Then again, some might argue that playing Skjei and McIlrath over Staal and Girardi gives them an advantage as well. But that’s a conversation for a different day. For now, resting their perceived top guys should be considered a priority.