Since this presentation was first delivered at TCS Live in 2019, Reid Cashman has continued to establish himself as one of hockey's premier teachers of defencemen. Now a head coach at Dartmouth College, Cashman has built a reputation throughout the NHL and AHL for developing players and helping blueliners maximize their impact with and without the puck.
One player frequently referenced in this presentation is John Carlson, who spent more than a decade as the cornerstone of the Washington Capitals' blueline before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Carlson's ability to create time and space through deception remains one of the defining traits of his game and serves as a powerful example of the concepts Cashman teaches throughout this session.
"Use deception with your eyes, feet, stick, inside shoulder, and the net. Deception is the result of good habits."
Few skills are more valuable for modern defencemen than the ability to manipulate pressure and create time with the puck. While elite skating and puck skills certainly help, deception is often what separates players who can simply move the puck from those who can consistently control play.
In this presentation Cashman breaks down how deception can be taught through simple, repeatable habits. Drawing on examples from NHL game action, including clips featuring Carlson, Cashman demonstrates how small details can have a significant impact on a defenceman's ability to evade pressure and make cleaner decisions.
One of the key teaching points focuses on puck retrievals and hand position. By collecting pucks on the hip, defencemen create multiple passing and skating options while making it more difficult for forecheckers to anticipate their next move. It's a subtle adjustment, but one that can dramatically improve puck movement, decision-making, and overall effectiveness under pressure.
Throughout the presentation, Cashman combines game footage, teaching progressions, and practice drills that coaches can immediately apply with their own teams. The concepts are straightforward, practical, and just as relevant today as they were when this presentation was first shared.
Noteworthy timestamps
- 0:00 Defensive Habits and Foundations
- 2:15 Core Principles of Efficient Defensemen
- 4:05 Creating Time and Space Through Habits
- 8:00 Using Deception in All Zones
- 11:55 Practicing Habits
- 20:00 Using the Net and Angles Effectively
- 24:45 Offensive Zone Strategies and Deception
- 30:15 Building Consistency and Efficiency in Defence
- 35:00 Practical Drills for All Levels
