Defenseman in the NHL calls themselves mules and have the credo, “We may not get all the glory but we can grunt out the victories.” These defensive players are making millions of dollars, so there must be more to hockey than just scoring goals. Here, retired NHL defenseman Jeff Serowik shares what he expects from the players he coaches in the defensive, offensive and neutral zones.
Defensive Zone
1. Have a good, active stick.
2. Keep your stick on the puck.
3. Stay strong in the corners, front of net and 1-on-1 battles.
4. Win the battles and come out with the puck.
5. Make good decisions with the puck.
6. Move the puck quickly and efficiently—find the tape.
7. Make safe plays if you don’t have tape to tape.
8. Put pucks into areas where forwards can retrieve it.
9. Communicate.
10. Make simple plays.
11. Play inside the dots—take away the middle and scoring areas.
12. Have your head on a swivel and a good active stick in front of the net.
13. Clear bodies and limit second chances/rebounds in front of the net.
14. Block shots.
15. Maintain good gap control.
16. Watch asses and faces: If an opponent’s ass is facing you—attack. If an opponent’s face is towards you—contain.
17. Keep your feet moving—don’t let a forward beat you out of the corner back to the net for a rebound or deflection.
18. Be steady and reliable—make the right play!
19. Do your job!
Offensive Zone
20. Jump up on the play and join in on the offense. Move the puck to the forwards and join the rush—but don’t lead the rush!
21. Get pucks to the net—even if it is just a wrister, that good lateral movement gets pucks through.
22. Take fake shots. Keep your head up with the puck moving side to side; try to find open lanes to the net with the puck.
23. Jump in with the forward on high cycle.
24. Make smart pinches only on full wraps—or if your forward is back to support you. If you’re 80 percent sure you can get the puck, you pinch.
25. Make smart dump-ins so the goalie can’t retain the puck.
26. Ensure good D-to-D puck movement.
27. Stay close on turnovers—make it very difficult to carry the puck into your zone. Force them to dump it in.
28. Go right back to your blue line after jumping in for a shot. In and out, all the time!
29. Be strong at the blue lines and keep that puck in!
Neutral Zone
30. Good reads.
31. Hinge: D to D, back to D.
32. Move your feet!
33. Maintain gap control.
34. Make area passes.
Editor’s Note: Jeff Serowik is an NHL defensemen who retired from the Pittsburgh Penguins and went on to found Pro Ambitions Hockey, which includes Battle Camp and Defense w/ Jeff.