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No practice on game days.


dantesinferno

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Another game day when the team is having an optional skate. I have not been keeping track but it seems like DeBoer does this a lot.

I understand when they play back to back games or the fact that they have certain contractual rules with the player's association. I also get that there are some older players on the team that can benefit from a down day now and then. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this and if it's common around the league?

BTW....Pittsburgh held a practice for tonight's game.

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For the record, they aren't practices. 

 

It's a light skate. It's more tradition than anything else really. Any strategy could be discussed in pre-game meetings or the practice before. 

 

I'm quite happy with Deboer's decision to limit these morning skates. Also, pretty sure they are usually optional for veterans.

Edited by devilsrule33
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I think the NBA did a study and the teams that skipped morning shoot-arounds played better that night..


Is this a hint that there's no Game Day thread yet? ;)

 

I say we roll with this as the GDT. I've seen worse on here before  :thumbsup:

Edited by Colin226
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Is this a hint that there's no Game Day thread yet? ;)

I don't mind making them but I've been leaving it for others to have a chance... So you do it!

Regarding morning skates- practice man. We're Talking bout practice. Not a game, not a game, not a game. Practice. Practice.

Practice.

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I think the NBA did a study and the teams that skipped morning shoot-arounds played better that night..

 

I wouldn't be shocked. I know advanced stats is all the craze, but a few smart people said  that the next inefficiency that teams should be investing in is health/nutrition/sleep etc.

 

You have these athletes playing an absolute grind of a season with back-to-backs and tons of travel. Are these guys sleeping at all? What are they eating late at night, before the game, after, on off-days etc?

 

Take the Devils for example last week: They played an OT game against Dallas on Friday. The team is giving them a post-game meal late on the plane. Some teams have gone giving a healthier meals, but for years you get pizza, tenders, fries, cookies, etc. Then they arrive at their hotel at what time? 2AM? These guys might be wired and have trouble sleeping. Now you want to have a morning skate the next day early? 

 

Just doesn't make much sense.

Edited by devilsrule33
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I wouldn't be shocked. I know advanced stats is all the craze, but a few smart people said  that the next inefficiency that teams should be investing in is health/nutrition/sleep etc.

 

You have these athletes playing an absolute grind of a season with back-to-backs and tons of travel. Are these guys sleeping at all? What are they eating late at night, before the game, after, on off-days etc?

 

Take the Devils for example last week: They played an OT game against Dallas on Friday. The team is giving them a post-game meal late on the plane. Some teams have gone giving a healthier meals, but for years you get pizza, tenders, fries, cookies, etc. Then they arrive at their hotel at what time? 2AM? These guys might be wired and have trouble sleeping. Now you want to have a morning skate the next day early? 

 

Just doesn't make much sense.

 

From what I remember reading a few years ago (I forgot where), Lou Lamoriello has a very strict menu for the team on game days. I'd be super surprised if the food the Devils offered the team on game day or on planes, etc., wasn't very regulated and specific.

 

I wish I could remember where I read that!

 

Edit: Saw mention of it here, but it pertains to his years at Providence: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/01/26/leafs-gm-brian-burke-on-lou-lamoriello-and-buttered-toast/

 

Screen_shot_2014_10_28_at_3_12_14_PM.png

 

I'd be super surprised if there's not something similar instituted within the big club.

Edited by DJ Eco
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wow that seems kind of crazy if that is indeed true.. regulating what these grown men can and cant eat? thats ridiculous they should be able to eat whatever the hell they want when they want just like every other person.. their diet is their problem if they cant keep it under control but they shouldnt be treated like animals..only one cup of food for the morning..

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wow that seems kind of crazy if that is indeed true.. regulating what these grown men can and cant eat? thats ridiculous they should be able to eat whatever the hell they want when they want just like every other person.. their diet is their problem if they cant keep it under control but they shouldnt be treated like animals..only one cup of food for the morning..

That was from Brian Burke's time in a Providence College

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Must be even less regulated in the AHL. Wedge said during last season that he put on a lot of weight eating unhealthy food because he was hungry all the time from the added exercise of being a pro.

 

It's a fact that eating clean gives you more focus and energy, even if it's not fun or as delicious, so I can see why teams limit the junk when they can. Though we all remember Parise scarfing down pizza in the press box

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team meals are very regulated. what they eat on their own time is not, but i can assure you they are not eating anything fried that the team is giving out.

 

it's always pasta and grilled chicken. fish was also an option. and a vegetable type medley. 

 

I believe it. From the Providence article posted. Lou was definitely ahead of the times, but even all this time later, teams are finally realizing it. I had read the amount of sh!t they were serving the players each day on some teams.

 

Still, you can always do more if you want to spend more. Offer another healthy meal post game at home or on the road or at other times. Include gluten-free options. A lot of it is education too for these players, especially the young guys to get them to stop bad habits. Guys are drinking a ton of soft drinks, snacking late at night and add that with the not a lot of sleep, it can effect recovery and everything that goes with it.

Edited by devilsrule33
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I believe it. From the Providence article posted. Lou was definitely ahead of the times, but even all this time later, teams are finally realizing it. I had read the amount of sh!t they were serving the players each day was insane.

 

Still, you can always do more if you want to spend more. Offer another healthy meal post game at home or on the road or at other times. Include gluten-free options. A lot of it is education too for these players, especially the young guys to get them to stop  bad habits. Guys are drinking a ton of soft drinks, snacking late at night and add that with the not a lot of sleep, and it can affect play.

 

this was the post game meal as well as pregame. it's not mandatory, but most players would take part.

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There are morning skates and then there are practices. As far as morning skates, some players love it, while a decent chunk do not. Some like getting that feel or sweat in or checking out the ice conditions, which are vastly different around the league. Some players coukd care less about any of that stuff.

Phil Esposito said they were the biggest waste of time. He also says there is no need for captains in the league.

Edited by hystyk28
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