skating backwards while stick handling

[technophile 0]

The other 5% of the time you can get the puck there but they won't be able to handle it. The biggest problem is defensemen that hold the puck for too long waiting for the perfect play. If you read and make the first good play, you're going to be a lot better off than screwing around and trying to make a perfect play.

Absolutely. You don't hold the puck in your zone and try to stickhandle around the forechecker--that's just asking to give up a breakaway. I see it a lot in my league and it drives me crazy. At the very least you can put it high off the glass and put the other team's D in your position.

Hesitating on the pass just gives the other forechecker more time to cut your angle to any other outlet, and gives you more time to make a fatal mistake.