Feature Story
Another look at defensemen (part II)
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Last week we looked at seven concepts for
defensemen to consider:
• Chasing mistakes
• Taking away space/ice
• Defending at the blue line
• Defending attacks from the blue line in
• Getting a stick on the puck
• Coverage at the net
• Backing up your partner
This week we will continue on with just
one more (important) concept, dealt with in much more detail.
8. Puck carrying vs. passing concepts
This is a big one for me! This, in my
opinion, is a big factor in determining whether or not a player can be a good
defenseman. The two primary things that defensemen do are move the puck out of
their own zone, and defend inside their own zone. While other things are
important, from the high school level on up, these are the big ones. Plus-minus
results, the best measure of a defenseman’s performance, will hinge on these
two items.
Defensemen basically have three options
with the puck (unless they are about to shoot on the net, then there are
four): carry the puck; pass the puck;
dump the puck. Once they have possession in their own end and begin to move up
the ice, these three options open and close, potentially all the way into the
offensive zone.
The big overall rule of hockey has always
been that the best way to move the puck is with a pass. It is the
fastest way because it is impossible to skate as fast as a pass. It is no
different for defensemen. Overhandling the puck and
carrying it when good passes are available are very, very bad ideas. Defensemen
that overhandle (and overcarry)
may have ego problems or just may not understand the game properly.
Several things happen when defensemen overhandle/overcarry:
• They are in
much greater danger of losing the puck – having it stripped away.
• The attack
slows down dramatically
• The
forwards are “strung out” moving up the ice making ultimate passes more
difficult and the attack less cohesive.
• If the puck
carrying goes on into the neutral and offensive zones, the forwards are taken
out of the play – and can actually lose their desire to attack (they get
discouraged).
• Defensemen
are not in position to do their primary job – defend! This creates the 2-on-1
and 3-on-2 opportunities coming back against them (and they are not there!).
With that being said, it is obvious that
a good pass to an open forward (ahead) is always the best of the options.
Let’s take a look at the various zones
and options as defensemen (with the puck moving up the ice).
• Defensive
Zone - The first option should always be an outlet pass to a wing or
center as long as they are open. If they are not and a “relief” pass to the D
position is there, it should be the second option.
It could also
be wise to cross pass to move the puck to an area of the ice with less pressure
– then the outlet pass.
The third
option is carrying the puck (if open ice exists) to get it over the blue line.
Trying to stickhandle past attacking forecheckers is
a bad idea, however.
The final
option, and not necessarily a bad one, is to dump the puck into a “quiet” area
deep in the neutral zone or offensive zone (without icing it) where the
forwards can pick it up or forecheck it if it goes to
the opposition. Defensemen should become adept at bouncing off the glass or
“popping up.” Getting it over the blue line is very critical.
• Neutral
Zone - Once a D crosses the blue line with the puck, the first options
again should always be a good pass to an open forward. If that option is not
open, the D should make a sprint for the red line – which provides the obvious
option of dumping into the zone without having any icing. Once over the red
line, it is best to assess where the forwards are so a decision of pass or dump
in can be made. The farther the defenseman progresses toward the offensive
zone, the less value rushing the puck becomes – and the more dangerous it
becomes because the likelihood of having opposition forwards behind a D
goes up — so any reversal can create dangerous situations (2-on-1, 3-on-2).
• Offensive
Zone - Here is where many D’s make their biggest mistakes. My rules say:
“Only progress into the zone with the puck or even with the offensive attack if
there is a clear manpower advantage and an imminent potential for scoring.” So
if a D is part of a 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 or even 4--on-3, they can proceed to the
top of the circle. Again, if they are part of an imminent potential for
scoring, the D needs to stay high (top of circle) and assess the defensive as
well as offensive situation. In other words, go back to being a defender.
If a D ends up being part of an imminent scoring attack and the puck goes
behind the net or in the corner, the imminent attack is over and the D
needs to go back to defender mode.
Defensemen that constantly attack deep
with the puck seldom produce as many points as they give up by not properly
defending. Defensemen that overhandle the puck in
their own or neutral zone slow down the attack and create much more risk of
turnover. There are spots where D’s should scoot forward with the puck, but
there have been very few Bobby Orr’s in the game – that could rush the puck at
the proper location and times and be productive from a plus-minus standpoint.
John Russo, Ph.D., is founder and
director of the