Load management has become commonplace in the NBA, with star players sitting out to let their bodies rest and ensure they're ready for the postseason when games matter more.

In the NHL, it's far less frequent but not unheard of, and the Los Angeles Kings might adopt this practice for captain Anze Kopitar.

With the playoffs secured, there's no reason for LA to play Kopitar for all three games, and he even admitted that he would like some rest.

"I'm sure we'll talk about it in the next few days and come up with a plan," said Kopitar when asked about his status for the next three games. "I'd like to get some rest, but I also don't want to just lay down and not be in the rhythm come first game of the playoffs."

Kopitar's a player with a lot of miles on his tires, so taking a game or two off would make sense in these next three.

He's fourth amongst active players with 1,371 games played, add in his 92 playoff games and Kopitar is pushing almost 1,500 games played.

Not only that, he's still eating up huge minutes for the Kings. 

He leads their forwards in average time on ice with 19:04 this season and frequently plays against the opposition's best players.

Resting Kopitar could also give an opportunity, albeit a small one, to some other players to play higher in the lineup.

It could also be used as a chance to reward a few players.

Maybe you give Quinton Byfield a taste of life as an NHL 1C. You could also elevate a more experienced player like Phil Danault to 1C and use it as an opportunity to reward someone like Akil Thomas with a temporary stint as 2C.

There are plenty of options for the Kings if they decide to rest Kopitar for a game or two and plenty of reasons to rest him.

I doubt Saturday in Anaheim is a game he sits out, but the final two games of the season both feel like an opportunity to manage Kopitar's minutes.