The seven characteristics of elite defensemen. 1. Poise: Defensemen are the quarterback of the team and like every elite quarterback, poise or calmness during the most pressure-packed, critical situations is common among the elite defensemen. Adverse situations are best overcome through this calm demeanor. Poise is contagious and can calm down an entire team. 2. Vision: Being the quarterback, the ability to see the play and identify even the smallest of seams to an open teammate is a differentiator for all elite defensemen. This vision comes with having your head up at all times. Most defensemen struggle to keep their head up while handling the puck, but not the true playmakers. 3. Competitive edge: As players move up through youth hockey, it becomes more important to have a certain edge which comes from extreme competitiveness. Great defensemen have a deep burning passion for the game which pushes them to do whatever it takes to help their team win. This includes all the little things that don’t show up in the box score, such as blocking a shot or taking a hit to make a play. 4. Awareness: A common phrase for elite defensemen is having a “sixth sense.” This innate ability to recognize where other players are on the ice is simply priceless. This is accompanied by proper positioning and allows elite defensemen to avoid the costly breakdowns or gaps in coverage. Having awareness of not only the other team but also one’s own team helps elite defensemen cover the mistakes of teammates. 5. Minute-eater: Have you ever heard a defenseman described as a “minute-eater?” This is extremely common of the elite defensemen and not so much because the coach puts them out on the ice for often half or more of the game, but because elite defenseman know how to conserve energy unlike others. This comes by picking one’s spots carefully. For example, jumping into the offense when there is a real scoring chance versus trying to make something out of nothing. Elite defensemen can pace themselves while being highly effective for an entire game. 6. Anticipation: Elite defensemen are always two steps ahead of the play. They are thinking beyond where the puck is now, but more focused on where it’s going to be. Having the ability to feel a play begin to develop and prepare and position oneself for it is nearly impossible to teach, but an intangible trait that the elite defenseman develop over many repetitions and through great instincts. 7. Intelligence: Brains or brawn? If you go back to the list of Minnesota born NHL defensemen as listed above, yes there are some physical specimens, but it is not as though they are all 6-4 and 225 pounds – they are all great thinkers of the game. Good players can get by on their physical skills, but hockey intelligence is what separates the elite players. Some of the most effective defensemen are smaller during their youth hockey days, learn how to play the game with their brain, and then hit their growth spurt to become elite.
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 19:37:53 +0000