This week’s video covers a very useful tip for defensemen to utilize on breakouts. Many young defensemen inadvertently give the forechecking pressure a lane to close them off or take the body instead of using the net as added protection to gain the advantage. This video covers how to properly use the net to your advantage.
Developing defensemen can be a difficult task. The skill sets required to be a solid defenseman are unique and require years of practice. One of the biggest things to work on with defenders is lateral movement. Here are some drills I like to use to improve my defensemen’s footwork:
Gap control is one of the most important skills/concepts for defensemen to learn. Simply stated, a defenseman’s gap is the distance between the puck carrying forward and the defender. Making a play at the right time, and knowing how and when to make the commitment can be the difference between a defender making a great play or getting beat.