Out

Out is the only designation with no ambiguity. Once a player is ruled out, the question stops being whether they play and becomes what their absence redistributes.

That redistribution is the actionable part. A ruled-out starter frees up minutes, shots, touches or ice time, and those go somewhere specific — usually to a direct positional backup, sometimes to a change in scheme.

Timing matters for how much edge is left. An out ruling published days ahead is already priced in; one that lands an hour before tip-off often isn't.