Pacing and workload is really important, for goalies and forwards/defensemen. We saw that in the ill-fated Torts year when the Sedins and Kesler got burned out by mid-January playing up to almost 30 mins per game. It is early so there is less risk of burning out Miller now. But as the season progresses it is important to keep goalies and players with the workload they can handle.

Management should have an idea how many games they want Miller to play this year. AV used to read the schedule well in advance and play Luongo or his backup on very specific days to balance their workload. I would target the next back-to-back (Dallas then Arizona) against Arizona as the best opportunity to play Bachmann, should Markstrom not yet be ready.

Should Markstrom return, then the team can return to their expected Miller/Markstrom workload: Markstrom playing every 3rd or 4th game.

Given how easy the schedule is at the start and how little he’s actually had to work this week (Ducks game counts, Kings does not and then Friday-Sunday) I’d play him every one. I also think it’s a little unfair to compare this start to previous ones — there’s little to compare between those different years (horrifically bad Sabres teams, last year’s Canucks squad was lucky against abysmal Alberta squads). I know it’s really hard to quantify goaltending but to the eye Miller looks like a different goalie. He doesn’t seem to be lunging at the play, his lateral movement is far better and more controlled, and he’s tracking the puck better than I’ve seen him at any other point in a Canucks uniform. I cannot think of one of the goals he’s given up that I’ve thought was questionable (in alone, back door or screened).

I was never crazy about the Miller signing but I definitely think the Miller-Markstrom Experience is a better bet than what people have been screaming for over the summer. While I wish him well, Lack (like Schneider before him) remains a backup his first year away and has started 1 of the 3 games.

I’m looking at a pitchers’ count. Miller can’t play more than 55 games this season. Part of the player management boils down to Markstrom’s status and how long he stands to be on the shelf. If Miller can manage the easier schedule over the next week, then that’s fine, but Markstrom’s needs to play almost every third game once he returns. That’s good for Miller’s durability, but also for Markstrom’s development.