Offensive or Defensive?

[Ralphiv#13 0]

A lot of people have been talking about the changing of defensemens style of play? Which do you think is better, offensive or defensive?

[ibeck 38]

A lot of people have been talking about the changing of defensemens style of play? Which do you think is better, offensive or defensive?

It all depends on the players capabilities. Hal Gill knows he cant go end to end and dangle 5 guys so he plays within his means as a defensive defenseman.

[Ralphiv#13 0]

It all depends on the players capabilities. Hal Gill knows he cant go end to end and dangle 5 guys so he plays within his means as a defensive defenseman.

Very true, thanks for the input!

[ibeck 38]

no problem

[the_sock 1]

Agreed, it depends on the player's skills and abilities. Mike Green has awesome offensive skills but is well known for his lack of defensive play. Phaneuf was an offensive force...but seems to lost that as of late.

I personally play a defensive game, mainly because of my stronger positional play in the defensive zone plus I've been working a lot on my passing out of the defensive zone. I don't really have an offensive game but I'm working on it.

[Ralphiv#13 0]

Agreed, it depends on the player's skills and abilities. Mike Green has awesome offensive skills but is well known for his lack of defensive play. Phaneuf was an offensive force...but seems to lost that as of late.

I personally play a defensive game, mainly because of my stronger positional play in the defensive zone plus I've been working a lot on my passing out of the defensive zone. I don't really have an offensive game but I'm working on it.

You know it really is an interesting question when you think about it, I myself have always played a very defensive game and have never really been part of the rush. But lately I have been rushing more but the biggest thing that you need in my opinion for an offensive defensemen is speed.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

I think that it just sort of develops over time. You start with the basic fundamentals of playing defense and go from there.

When I started out, I was strictly a stay-at-home defense. I barely scored goals, but I was rarely scored on when on the ice. That being said however, as I got into Bantam, I became more offensive. My shot, skating and vision really improved. So now, at my first midget season, I'm a strong 2-way defenseman.

In correlation to your last comment, I don't think that offensive defensemen really need killer speed. I mean it's important for any player, but I think that a "sense" of how to move the puck well and find openings while moving up ice is most important. Typically, I can get at least to their blueline if I can wing around my net, but I'm no speedster by any means.

Edit: Ehh actually I'd change my response for the most important part of being an offensive defenseman. I'd have to say that knowing WHEN and HOW to jump into the rush is way more important. Especially since your main role is defense. But just my 2 cents.

[ibeck 38]

If you are not going to be the highest skilled player on the ice or fastest, you have to be the smartest.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

If you are not going to be the highest skilled player on the ice or fastest, you have to be the smartest.

Yes! That exactly breaks down what I'm going at.

[biff44 0]

The world has changed. For every defensive defenseman who makes it to a respectable level of hockey, there are probably 10 offensive defensmen. Face it, you rise to the top when the coach gives you ice time. In a game where you are comfortably in the lead, the coach can put anyone out there. But in a tight game, or in a game where you are trailing, he is thiking "how do I get a few more *&(*#@ goals?". He looks down the line and say, "hey joe" (most offensive dman he's got) "your going in"!.

If you are a dman and not scoring any goals or assists, I think you have to stand in front of a mirror and ask the guy you see "why not?"

[NuggyBuggy 0]

But in a tight game, or in a game where you are trailing, he is thiking "how do I get a few more *&(*#@ goals?". He looks down the line and say, "hey joe" (most offensive dman he's got) "your going in"!.

And who does the coach look to when it's a tight game and his team is leading ? Is he still looking at a Mike Green ?

[ibeck 38]

And who does the coach look to when it's a tight game and his team is leading ? Is he still looking at a Mike Green ?

He means the guy who is more mobile and more offensively gifted on that team, stay in context.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

He means the guy who is more mobile and more offensively gifted on that team, stay in context.

In a tight game with a lead the coach is going to go to the "more mobile and more offensively gifted" defenseman, over the best defensive defenseman he has, even if the latter is completely immobile and lacks any offensive skill ? Seriously ?

[Chadd 916]

If you can't skate, you can't play at the highest levels. Even those NHL players that get ripped on the internet for being terrible, are generally still very good skaters and vastly better than the people making fun of them. Every defenseman should be able to at least make a good outlet pass, even if their job is to be a shutdown guy. By the same token, everyone should be able to handle a 2 on 1 or a man along the boards, it comes with the job description. Sure, some will be better than others in any particular role, but the guys that can do it all tend to stay in the league a lot longer than the guys that can only do one thing.

[ibeck 38]

In a tight game with a lead the coach is going to go to the "more mobile and more offensively gifted" defenseman, over the best defensive defenseman he has, even if the latter is completely immobile and lacks any offensive skill ? Seriously ?

He was talking about an offensive guy, and being down in the game and try to get another goal to tie, not worry about giving up goals.

[GoBucky 0]

Id agree that it depends upon the player's skills and abilities.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

I'm a defensive defenseman. I can skate well, rarely get beat or burnt, but I'm not all that great with a puck. I can make a decent outlet pass and get a few assists a season off of that, but maybe a goal a season with shots from the point. It also depends on the competition and what kind of mood I'm in. Sometimes I'm just more aggressive offensively than others. I only pinch when it's safe and I haven't hesitated, etc.

[Ralphiv#13 0]

I'm a defensive defenseman. I can skate well, rarely get beat or burnt, but I'm not all that great with a puck. I can make a decent outlet pass and get a few assists a season off of that, but maybe a goal a season with shots from the point. It also depends on the competition and what kind of mood I'm in. Sometimes I'm just more aggressive offensively than others. I only pinch when it's safe and I haven't hesitated, etc.

That sounds relatively similar to me, I am an extremely fast skaters but am not to good with the puck but when I need to be I am. And agreed it all depends on the mood and how your playing for me.

[Neal 41]

If you can't skate, you can't play at the highest levels. Even those NHL players that get ripped on the internet for being terrible, are generally still very good skaters and vastly better than the people making fun of them. Every defenseman should be able to at least make a good outlet pass, even if their job is to be a shutdown guy. By the same token, everyone should be able to handle a 2 on 1 or a man along the boards, it comes with the job description. Sure, some will be better than others in any particular role, but the guys that can do it all tend to stay in the league a lot longer than the guys that can only do one thing.

If we go by what I am inferring Chadd's definition of a defensive defenseman is: someone who excels at dealing with the defensive side of things, but still good enough offensively to make a good outlet pass, I'll take a team full of defensive defenceman and play a forward on my power play point.

[interpathway 9]

Having a forward on the PP point isn't going to help you when your team is 5v5 and an offensive defenceman with legs has a chance to make a three on two into a four on two.

We all know the advantages of playing a sniper on the blue line when up a man. Fortunately, our game is evolving where the stock of an offensive minded backliner is rising faster than any other type of player.

[Chadd 916]

Having a forward on the PP point isn't going to help you when your team is 5v5 and an offensive defenceman with legs has a chance to make a three on two into a four on two.

We all know the advantages of playing a sniper on the blue line when up a man. Fortunately, our game is evolving where the stock of an offensive minded backliner is rising faster than any other type of player.

Not really, offensive defensemen really didn't bring much of a premium (if any) at the trade deadline. The ability to skate is paramount, regardless of how that is used.

[chippa13 1844]

The world has changed. For every defensive defenseman who makes it to a respectable level of hockey, there are probably 10 offensive defensmen.

I disagree with this statement. If you take a look at most of the lineups across the NHL you'll find that their defensive pairings include one of each. A lot of offensive defensemen get weeded out as they climb the ladder because for many of them it is their skating that allows them to be more offensive. As they continue to move up the ranks the skating across the board keeps getting better and those guys who relied on skating to set them apart suddenly don't enjoy the same advantage.