Line deployment & Ice time

[Owen]

Why does a forward line or defense pair get used in a game if a manager sets it to 0% ice time? I have six defensemen dressed, so three pairs deployed, comprising 100% of the ice time. Fourth pair is set to 0% I don't understand why they still see the ice 12 times per game.

[BeardCommish]

Always been the case - usually the 4th D-pairing plays 0%, but sometimes they get a few shifts. It's just like any other percentage - you set it to 30%, for example, and that line might play 33% of the time, or 28%. Games aren't an exact science, has been my view of it - meaning you go into a game with the idea that pairing 4 won't play, but they may need to a couple/few (or 12, I guess?) times.

[JimToupet]

I see the same with my team in my league. The 4th d-men pairing should be disable at 0%. The only way that I would see the 4th pairing useful is if you want to play at 7 dmen and 11 forwards. That it's not permit in my league, anyway.