There are a few defenseman topics I like to re-review every 4-6 years so I catch the new coaches coming up through the youth ranks – and remind the more experienced coaches. Plus, I usually add an item or two that was not previously covered.

 

1. Defense Quarterback Philosophy
Most coaches have an overall philosophy about the game that drives how they teach and coach. It determines the kind of forwards and defensemen they want – and has a great deal to do with how teams look, perform and thus how they practice.

One of the concepts is the “Defense Quarterback Philosophy.” The team quarterback is the position from which the game initiates for key activities. It is also my philosophy. So let’s take a look at what that means. Its characteristics are:

• Defensemen (or maybe one for each pair) are highly skilled with excellent offense as well as defensive skills. A Brent Burns (San Jose), Nick Leddy (N.Y. Islanders) or Ryan McDonagh (N.Y. Rangers) type.

• They are expected to carry the puck out of their zone when a good passing option is not evident – and even through the neutral zone.

• They follow the play up the ice closely and stay part of the rush all the way to the top of circle if appropriate.

• The puck is often (in the offensive zone) moved to the points rather than the three forwards trying to score “inside.”

• The power play most often is controlled (quarterbacked) at the point.

• The defense contributes a substantial amount of the team’s points (25-33 percent). At least two defensemen per team should be in the top 5-6 point producers.

• The forwards are given key defensive responsibilities to allow the defense to be more offensively involved.

Especially with limited talent or small teams, overplaying or only using two pairs of defensemen can also stabilize the team and allow a coach to play three lines consistently.

 

2. Shooting
I still see defensemen at the youth, high school, college and even pro levels that shoot “poorly.” That doesn’t mean they have weak shots or even lack a variety of shots. It means when they get the puck at the point, they make poor shooting decisions.

Let’s look at the options a D has when the puck comes to them at the point. First of all, they only have a split second to make a decision.

• Collect the puck and shoot it at the net. This might be a good option, but very often it is not.

• Move laterally to find a better lane or opportunity to shoot, usually toward the middle. Options will open up as the D moves.

• Look for support in front of the net to deflect or tip the shots. Most defensemen should not very often shoot to score, but rather get it to the net so the forwards can deal with it. Defensemen don’t often directly score from outside through all the legs and bodies.

• Shoot low, from on-the-ice to 10-12 inches up. That is where it is easier for forwards to tip – and that is where the players in front (opposition and yours) are the smallest, so the chances are better of getting the puck through or getting a good deflection.

• Move at a 30- to 45-degree angle toward the middle (if it is open), again making it harder for the shot to be blocked. It will be evident when shooting lanes are open and when it is appropriate to shoot for tips and rebounds or to score. As a D gets toward the top of circle, scoring directly on the net becomes more likely and feasible. Long, clear shots have little chance.

• Do a give-and-go with the wing that is at the boards. This gives open lanes and moves the D into the reasonable scoring lanes.

• Shoot it off the back boards to get a bounce out front of the net.

• Move to the net if there is an opening in front of the D, then look for options again.

• Look for a fake shot and pass opportunity to a forward at the side of the net.

• Put the puck into the corner rather than getting a shot blocked (rarely).

If Ds shoot low and for (what I call) purpose, the chances of getting a goal goes way up. And the goal will likely be by the forwards, with an assist by the D. Just teeing up the puck and blasting toward the net is not very productive unless it is an emergency (being pressured).

While I don’t necessarily recommend that D’s even do stickhandling to get around a covering forward (out by the blue line), some more conservative situations might allow defensemen to attack, if backed up by the partner D.

 

3. Skating Skills
The primary skating skills that make a D into a good D are backwards and turning (transition) prowess. And the key backward skill is not crossing over, but what I call “squiggling.” That is going backward (fast) with both feet on the ice. This is what is being taught to D’s at the highest levels now. On YouTube, watch “BU Hockey Defense Mondays.” The coaches are drilling the D’s on this squiggle technique. They likely will start out crossing over to get speed, but then it’s squiggle all the way – at full speed to match opposing forwards. It keeps the D from getting caught by quick forwards in the middle of a crossover. And it is a very quick and fluid way to track a forward coming down and trying to get around.

Turning of course, is just transitioning from forward to backward and vice-versa. It just requires a large amount of practice until the turns are fluid – with and without the puck.

 

4. Hockey Smarts
There are a number of key “smarts” areas for D’s. A few of them are:

• Making passes in and through clear areas. In most youth games, the D’s are way too concerned about passing up or across the middle, so they force it up the boards over and over. A few strides toward an open area will often open up great passing opportunities. Of course, passing cross ice near the net could be a no-no, depending upon the situation. I don’t like D’s jamming the puck into traffic, unless they can “hit the glass” and put it in the neutral zone when other options don’t exist. However, other options, such as a short re-group or a pass to the D partner in front (if safe) or behind the net.

• Proper shooting (covered above)

• Becoming part of the rush as it goes up ice is something that should become natural for all D’s. A defenseman should not be more than one line behind the play, and should move up quickly to “capture and defend” the offensive blue line once the rush goes over the line. Not only will this give the rush other options, but it will many times secure the blue line to keep the puck in the zone. This is a simple concept, but many D’s (even good ones) are lazy following a rush. They are simply watching the rush go and should stay up close so they can potentially be part of it. They will also collect many extra points every season by doing this.

 

For you old hockey coaches or addicts, here’s a couple of stumper questions to make you think. Don’t go to the internet for the answer until you’ve called your best hockey buddies to see if they know!

Q:  Who was the interim head coach of the Minnesota North Stars in 1977-78? (tip: was from Quebec and played college hockey in Minnesota).

Q:  What was the name of the Canadian amateur team that won the 1961 World Hockey Championship” (tip: they were from somewhere west of Winnipeg).

 

Order John Russo’s new chapterized book, “The Best of 26 Years of John Russo’s Coaches Corner”. It has been described as a “must read” for all youth coaches. Go to Russocoachescorner.com for information and ordering.

John Russo, Ph.D., is founder and now mentor to the Upper Midwest High School Elite League. He was a captain at the University of Wisconsin and recipient of prestigious hockey awards at the state (Peterson award) and national levels (Snooks Kelly). His Coaches Corner columns have appeared in Let’s Play Hockey each year since 1986.