If a player is going to play the last game of his career in SCF Game 7...

[Dessert Nights]

...do you think he should be in the lineup if the team has a better and/or healthier player who could replace him?

EDIT: And let's assume the player in question has been a part of the team during the postseason and has been playing in at least few other playoff games (so not some 4th string goalie or career AHLer who has few NHL games).

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[LavalPhantom]

Nope!

That's considering that the distraction of leaving him out is compensated completely and then some by dressing the better player.

 

[WesMcCauley]

No! This shouldnt even be a question. This is pro sports, if the team has a better chance to win with someone else, you are not playing.

 

[jkrdevil]

Well in ‘03 the Devils inserted Ken Daneyko into Game 7 of the Cup Final for his final game after him being a scratch for most of the playoffs.

They won and pitched a shutout. Of course I’m not going to claim he was a difference maker in the game. It has happened though.

 

[SharksCyclops]

If it was someone like Iginla, I would think they would be put in.

 

[Whale Mingo]

No, you ice the best team you can to win something very few ever get to.

 

[olli]

No, the team of said player will put out the best lineup possible obviously.

 

[Pens x]

No but I’m sure it happens often

 

[The Panther]

Game 7, you dress the best line-up, period. By the same token, if the score is 7-0 after two periods, you try for 10 - 0. That's the nature of pro-sports. No free rides.

Now, if we're talking about game four of a probable four-game sweep, I could see inserting a team-leader veteran who will mostly ride the bench. But that's an exceptional case.

For me, the cruelest scratch is one like Jim Peplinski (Flames) in game six, 1989. Peplinski was a lifetime Flame, pillar of the team and community for almost a decade, and a good playoff performer. He had set up the game seven OT winner in round one, for example. Yet Terry Crisp scratched him before the Cup-clinching game six in Montreal (the positive side is that Lanny McDonald was in). Peplinski had to suffer the indignity of hoisting the Cup from the commisioner dressed without a jersey on.

A few months later, Peplinski retired, age 29.

As they said in The Karate Kid: "No mercy!"

 

[Cletus Marley]

No, you ice the best team you can to win something very few ever get to.

That right there.

 

[Hockeyholic]

If it was someone like Iginla, I would think they would be put in.

No. Just no. I don't care if it's Gretzky or Lemieux, if they are a shell of their former selves, and a liability on the ice, you sit. This isn't about sentimental bs or respect. It's about winning.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

I don’t care if you’re literally Scotty Bowman; if you intentionally ice a less than optimal lineup in a game that means everything, you are a f***ing idiot and you deserve to be fired.

 

[Scott Stevens]

Well in ‘03 the Devils inserted Ken Daneyko into Game 7 of the Cup Final for his final game after him being a scratch for most of the playoffs.

They won and pitched a shutout. Of course I’m not going to claim he was a difference maker in the game. It has happened though.

He was a scratch for 11/24 playoff games
That’s not even half, where one more than half is what you would need for the very loosest definition of “most”
But yes I do remember the surprise insertion into game 7 over oly t

 

[FrolikFan67]

you ice the best lineup possible. you dont jeopardize anything for an entire organizations history to satisfy one player. im sure said player will be glad to win a stanley cup if they do win over playing and potentially losing.

 

[paragon]

Chicago let Kimmo Timonen play 3 minutes in the cup final when they beat Tampa.

 

[robertmac43]

Depends on the players history in the league. If it was a once superstar you do it for sure

 

[Hockeyholic]

Depends on the players history in the league. If it was a once superstar you do it for sure

Not if that player isn't better than guys your benching. This is professional sports...

 

[robertmac43]

Not if that player isn't better than guys your benching. This is professional sports...

I get that but how much more is a bit player on the fourth line going to change? If Jagr was going into his last game, you put him in over your fourth liner

 

[Hockeyholic]

I get that but how much more is a bit player on the fourth line going to change? If Jagr was going into his last game, you put him in over your fourth liner

Sure, if players on that 4th line are stinking the joint up.

 

[Team_Spirit]

You put him in for the leadership.

You will roll with 3 lines anyways.

 

[Plural]

What if a player has birthday and it's only a first round game 2? Should be be in the lineup over a better player?

 

[Hockeyholic]

What if a player has birthday and it's only a first round game 2? Should be be in the lineup over a better player?

Better yet, what if it's their wedding anniversary?