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By John Russo

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

I haven’t presented this “Solid Defense” subject for 8 or 10 years. It is critical for coaches and players; and is overdue. 

In my opinion, defense is the most challenging skating position to play. It takes more skills, not only because defensemen spend a considerable amount of time going backwards, but also because they have to be somewhat physical and have the passing skills and smarts of a center. Many defensemen, however, make the position much more difficult by making it more “complicated” than it needs to be. The defense position is really pretty simple in its basic concept. As it is made more complicated, defense becomes more difficult and riskier. 

Most D’s are not even closely capable of playing their position in a complicated manner. There are only a handful of these exceptional D’s in the NHL. It’s not a bad idea for players to admire exceptional D’s and to try to gain some of the skills and do some of the moves that they have. However, the first thing a young D needs to do is understand the very basic things that make up a good, solid D. Probably as many as 60-65 percent of the D’s in the NHL are in the “just good, solid” category. It is enough challenge to be a good, solid D! 

So what are these items and skills that make up a good, solid D and keeps the position simple? First, it absolutely does not include solos up the ice and overhandling the puck in the defensive zones. For one thing, penetrating into the offensive zone (as a D) requires outstanding speed and skating skills – not just good, but outstanding. Handling the puck (overhandling) in the defensive and neutral zones requires this outstanding skating, plus outstanding hand skills as well. It is a very rare D that has these traits plus the strength, hockey sense, etc., that make up the rare exceptional D. 

To be a very good D – to “make a living” at it – you have to be able to do several things: 

• Cover in your own end. This does not mean that you do anybody else’s job; just your own or area coverage. 

• Move the puck out of the defensive zone. Preferably in possession of your team, but in any regard out of the zone. This means by passing (preferable), carrying or dumping. 

• Support the rush into the offensive zone. This is not a critical item, but simply following the play up the ice “smartly” can satisfy it. 

• Support the offense in the offensive zone. Being in the right position to pass, shoot, etc., as part of the offense. 

• Defend in the neutral zone. This really just means trying to defend an opposition rush as it comes through the neutral zone without taking too much risk.

• Defending the rush in the defensive zone. This is “killing” the initial rush until support coverage arrives. 

Notice that scoring is not one of the items. Of course scoring is nice, but it is not generally what is expected of a good, solid D. I always say that good, solid D’s get their points with good passes or from the offensive blue line. 

To really simplify a good, solid D’s job. it is to: defend (cover) in the zone, move the puck out of the zone, support in the other two zones, especially in defending the defensive blue line. Everything else is a bonus! A nicely-skilled physical D that can do the above can make a nice living with any NHL team! 

Most young players complicate these very simple items and create risk all over the ice. D’s need to be risk-reducers and risk-avoiders. The easiest way to go through the D basics is to “follow the puck” as it moves out of the defensive zone, up the ice to the offensive zone – then back into the defensive zone. 

Moving up the ice 

• Once the D collects the puck in the defensive zone, the first option is to move the puck to an open forward for a breakout. If that is not an option and there is low risk open ice, the second option is to skate the puck toward the blue line. Another option is a cross-pass to a D partner. Going backwards with the puck or passing (very far) backwards are not good options (I don’t like to go backwards in the defensive zone). The partner D then has the same options (pass, skate). If no passes or open ice are available, then the third option is to dump the puck (high flip or off the glass) into the neutral zone or beyond. 

• Once over the blue line with the puck, the options have to be considered again. First option (always) is pass to a forward; then again look for low-risk open ice to skate it; then if trapped, dump it forward into the offensive zone. Cross passing to a partner is high risk in this area unless the area between is very open. 

• If still carrying it through the neutral zone, then it is a race for the red line while still looking for a pass to a forward. 

• Once the red line is captured, another option opens up. Again the options are pass, skate or dump – except the dump option becomes better than the skate option at this point because the puck can be dumped deep with forwards already in motion near the offensive blue line. Continued skating often hangs up the forwards near the blue line and the attacking D goes over the blue line with no support – a true solo! 

• The puck has been passed or dumped for an attack into the offensive zone. The D’s job now becomes one of offensive support and defensive monitoring. One D can follow the attack to the top of the circle and become an option, but shouldn’t go any deeper. 

• If the D still has the puck going over the blue line, then becoming part of the attack depends upon conditions. If an advantage (1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3) exists, the D should continue with the attack. Immediately when the attack becomes neutral or disadvantageous, the D needs to stop and become a “pure” D between the blue line and top of circle. Any further progression with the attack is not likely to produce a scoring chance but does increase the risk substantially.

Coming back on defense 

• Of course in the offensive zone, the D’s could have passing or shooting opportunities, while they support the offensive attack. However, a conservative posture is normally in order unless the conditions dictate otherwise. 

• Once the opposition collects the puck, the whole process goes in the other direction. The first decision is whether or not to defend the offensive blue line. Except for special conditions or systems, D’s would only defend the blue line if they had forward support and would not be risking a disadvantaged attack. The normal condition would be to move into the neutral zone, not leaving too much of a gap to the attack. 

• Once the attack moves into the neutral zone, the D’s must assess the situation and decide how they are going to defend their own blue line. One of the options is not to take chances by “stabbing out” at the attacking forwards. If it appears that the defensive forwards are in position backchecking, shortening the gap and defending the blue line is in order. This is also in order if the defensive forwards are not far away — to allow them to catch up. If no support is evident, then giving up the blue line is in order. Again, slowing down the attack and directing it to the outside will allow the backcheckers to catch up. The idea is to get the attack out of the scoring areas so normal defensive zone coverage can kick in. 

• There are many possibilities for in-zone coverage responsibilities for D’s. For zone coverages, one D will most likely need to be in front of the net. For man-on-man coverages that may not be true. However, the two D’s and center are the primary around-the-net defenders in the scoring areas and must be able to physically defend. They also need to know how to maintain positions of defensive advantage. This most often involves keeping the opposition forward on the outside.

Well, we are back to collecting the puck and breaking out again. Very little offensive goal scoring or lugging the puck long distances was involved in the descriptions. On the other hand, many decisions were involved mostly involving moving the puck (not necessarily carrying it) offensively or defending lines or areas defensively. Bad decisions in both directions create risk. 

Coaches should review this article with their D’s, using a “rink form” to show specific areas with a pen. It might also be in order to demonstrate on the ice. Associations should have “defense camps” before the season begins to make certain all of their D’s know what is expected of them. 

Finally, coaches need to constantly enforce these concepts at all levels. Players need to have feedback as to how they are doing.

John Russo’s Coaches Corner columns have been running continually in Let’s Play Hockey since 1986. He hails from Sault Ste Marie and is a former captain for the U of Wisconsin Badgers, now a long time resident of Edina, Minnesota, the creator of the highly successful Upper Midwest High School Elite Leagues; a youth and high school hockey coach for over 40 years; and the recipient of the prestigious Dave Peterson Award (Minnesota) and Snooks Kelly Award (American Hockey Coaches Association) for his contributions to the development of hockey in the United States. His most recent book, described as a “must read” for youth coaches, is available at www.russocoachescorner.com.