The single most important factor in being a defenceman?

Question

Is the single most important factor in being a defenceman:

1) ability to play the point on the power play?
2) how fast and well a person skates side-to-side and backwards?
3) size, and assertiveness in front of your own goal?
4) the hardness of a person's shot and keeping the shot low?
5) the ability to choose correctly when to join a rush/pinch in and when not to?
6) the ability to defend the even-man rush and the odd-man rush?
7) the ability to know not to make your game more complicated than what you can handle?
8) something else?

I ask the question because defenceman is the position that's the hardest to judge whether somebody will make it at the NHL level with. What do you think is the single most important factor? Also, the NHL says the Norris trophy is for the league's "best" defenceman - but the "best" defenceman sometimes isn't the best defenceman, if you were to ask the experts.

Answer 1

i am a defensive-minded D-man.

1) not important... stick a O-man and a D-man on the blue line
2) most important... ability to stay with the forward is very important... if you can stay with someone, you can stop them everytime
3) very important
4) accuracy is more important than hardness... every goalie can save a really fast shot from the blue line, but maybe not in close
5) that's more of a mentality... it depends on the type of D-man
6) very important
7) important

Answer 2

1) ability to play the point on the power play
2) how fast and well a person skates side-to-side and backwards
6) the ability to defend the even-man rush and the odd-man rush

I think all of these factors are critical, but being strong and offensive and defensive-minded, and being an outstanding skater is key. When I played defense, I was always expected to 'take the man' and not the puck when defending. Defensive players need to be thinkers and have good strategic judgement.

Answer 3

The single most important thing to make a great defenseman is communication with the goalie. Goalies see everything and great defensemen are constantly talking with, being moved by their goalie. Being a great defenseman means more than body-checks, end to end rushes, booming slapshots. It is knowing your position in a team sport leading and defending attacks. Bobby Orr was always talking with Gerry Cheevers. Philly fans will remember Van Impe with Bernie Parent. It is the single most important thing that separates defensemen, how they work with the goalie. All the skating and shooting drills are meaningless if that communication is absent. Watch for it this season. As far as the Norris goes, since Orr, points have always played a key role in the voting. I would suggest a new trophy for most pts ( The Orr ) as well as defensive defenseman ( Norris).

Answer 4

I think it is the ability to read the play, and to be able to react quickly and effectively. If you can read the play and know exactly what is going to happen you won't ever get caught out of position because you will always be one step ahead. You will also know when it is the right time to pinch in or to join the rush. Being able to read what is going on affects almost every part of your game, not only as a defense but also as a forward.

Answer 5

I lean towards 5).

The correct answer, ultimately, is going to vary from defenseman to defenseman. History tends only to remember the Orrs, Bourques and Coffeys of the world who put up the big numbers. However, anyone who watches the game knows that if one defenseman is going to join the rush, his partner has to stay behind.

One of the best defensemen I ever saw was Brad McCrimmon. He'll never be a household name, but he retired with a plus minus rating above +300 for his career. That kind of guy is just as important as a Bourque or a Larry Murphy. Five minutes of watching a guy like Sergei Gonchar, and you KNOW he has to be paired with someone who can protect his own end.

Stay-at-home defenseman is one of the most thankless jobs in sports, but when they make a big play, the crowd goes wild.

Answer 6

I would say that the single most important skill a defenceman should have is mobility - being able to get where you need to be can negate some aspects of size, and it also helps on both offense and defence.

Answer 7

6. The ability to defend the odd man rush. I don't mean to sound like Don here but NOTHING annoys me more than when the lone defence man back plays the man with the puck and leaves the passing lane and the other forward(s) open. DEFENCEMEN play the open man and take away the passing lane! Stop screening your goalies and leave the man with the puck to your goalie.

Answer 8

You also have to help the goalie out. Like by blocking shots and trying to keep the net puck free. I know, thats the goalies job. But a defencman can help eliminate soring

Answer 9

being in the right place at the right time..... smart play dominates over physical abilities 8 of 10 times.

Look at Nick Lidstrom of the Red Wings

Answer 10

8) other; the most important thing in being a defenseman is sacrificing your body to everything on the ice