#nhl-rookie

#nhl-rookie

I think it's really imperative for him to continue to be playing. Ideally, I'd rather be watching him play last night (with Providence) in Springfield, to tell you the honest truth. The rules are the rules, and how we navigated in terms of getting James experience at this point in time. That was part of it, you know, going to Providence for a period of time, getting into regular season games, playing in the playoffs. And now he has the benefit of going to play in the Worlds.

The physical toll has been real. Schaefer admitted that the body doesn't feel the same every morning anymore - not with games every other night, back-to-backs, and constant travel. Some days feel good. Others don't. The adjustment, he's learning, is about managing the lows as much as enjoying the highs. "You just push through it," he said. "Doing the little things - in the gym, off the ice, recovery, nutrition - that's how you keep yourself as close to 100 percent as you can."