5 Essential Skills For Forwards & Defensemen
In order to be an elite level hockey player, you’ve got to be able to skate, shoot, pass, stickhandle and check effectively at high speeds.There are lots of players out there who have those skills – but do they actually know how to play their position effectively? For both forwards and defensemen, there are 5 position-specific abilities that you must excel at in order to play at the elite level. I’m not talking just about “game sense” here – although game-sense is critical to being to able to excel at the abilities below. These are much more specific than that. I played both forward and defense at the elite level and it took a lot more than just general “game sense” to allow me to compete at that level – I had to learn the nitty-gritty details of each position.
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Here are the…
5 KEY SKILLS FOR DEFENSEMEN AND FORWARDS
DEFENSEMEN:
:::: Moving The Puck: The ability for a defenseman to make a quick and smart first pass is critical. It is the key to an effective breakout and one of the things that coaches at the elite levels are looking for from every defenseman.
Your ability to use your partner effectively and keep multiple passing options
open are also crucial. And your ability to move the puck without telegraphing
where you’re going to pass it is absolutely critical.
Your ability to use your partner effectively and keep multiple passing options
open are also crucial. And your ability to move the puck without telegraphing
where you’re going to pass it is absolutely critical.
:::: Board Play: Are you able to gain and maintain control of the puck and
player along the boards by using your stick and body effectively?
player along the boards by using your stick and body effectively?
:::: Net Front Play: Can you use your body and stick effectively protect
your goalie and move the screen from the path of the shot? Can you tie up
the player without getting out of position? And the one that is most critical
in my mind: can you clear loose pucks without turning the puck over to the
other team?
your goalie and move the screen from the path of the shot? Can you tie up
the player without getting out of position? And the one that is most critical
in my mind: can you clear loose pucks without turning the puck over to the
other team?
:::: Neutral Zone Play: Are you able to read the other team’s attack and
adjust to different situations (1v1, 2v1, 3v1, 2v2)? Do you understand when
to “step-up” and hold the blue line? Are you able to play the body
effectively – without taking a penalty? Can you control the puck and
initiate the attack – instead of just throwing the puck back to the other
team? That last one is a HUGE pet peeve of mine – when defenseman just
throw the puck back into traffic instead of controlling the play.
adjust to different situations (1v1, 2v1, 3v1, 2v2)? Do you understand when
to “step-up” and hold the blue line? Are you able to play the body
effectively – without taking a penalty? Can you control the puck and
initiate the attack – instead of just throwing the puck back to the other
team? That last one is a HUGE pet peeve of mine – when defenseman just
throw the puck back into traffic instead of controlling the play.
:::: Point Play: Do you know when to pinch and when to back off?
Can you play the body without taking a penalty? Can you read when you
can jump in for the attack? Do you know what shot to use when – or when
you should just throw it in the corner?
Can you play the body without taking a penalty? Can you read when you
can jump in for the attack? Do you know what shot to use when – or when
you should just throw it in the corner?
FORWARDS:
:::: Playmaking: Do you know when to move the puck and when to hang on
to it (in the defensive, neutral and offensive zones)? Do you know how
to support your teammates when they have the puck so they can make a play
to you? Can you make a play without telegraphing where the puck is going?
to it (in the defensive, neutral and offensive zones)? Do you know how
to support your teammates when they have the puck so they can make a play
to you? Can you make a play without telegraphing where the puck is going?
:::: Ability To Break Into Openings: In my opinion, your ability to read
time and space on the ice is the one ability that separates good players
from great players. Do you understand when you should be going full-speed
and when you need to slow down and “save” ice? Being able to do this
effectively is absolutely crucial if you want to get to and play at the
next level.
time and space on the ice is the one ability that separates good players
from great players. Do you understand when you should be going full-speed
and when you need to slow down and “save” ice? Being able to do this
effectively is absolutely crucial if you want to get to and play at the
next level.
:::: Defensive Play: This isn’t about more than just how you play in your
defensive zone (which is absolutely critical by the way). Do you understand
how to forecheck and backcheck properly? Are you a reliable 2-way forward?
defensive zone (which is absolutely critical by the way). Do you understand
how to forecheck and backcheck properly? Are you a reliable 2-way forward?
:::: Puck Protection: This is really important for defensemen as well,
but it is especially critical for forwards. Can you protect the puck
along the boards on the breakout to make sure you get it out? Can you win
battles in the corner in the offensive zone? Do you know how to drive
around a defenseman without putting the puck in a position where it can
be taken away?
but it is especially critical for forwards. Can you protect the puck
along the boards on the breakout to make sure you get it out? Can you win
battles in the corner in the offensive zone? Do you know how to drive
around a defenseman without putting the puck in a position where it can
be taken away?
:::: Scoring Ability: Not everyone is a 50 goal scorer. You don’t have to
fill the net, but do you know how to use the right shot at the right time?
Do you know how to get your body in the right position to put the puck in
the net?
So there you have it, – the most critical “position-specific” abilities for
defensemen and forwards.
