I have a huge appreciation for niche focus areas in the game, and Matt Deschamps presentation at TCS Live in June of 2024 certainly qualifies: the habits of under-sized defencemen. Bigger, stronger, faster is always better, right? As long as the skill comes with that package, sure. It's why Eric Lindros was a phenomenon, a legendary force of nature no one could contain. 

But if you're missing a couple pieces of the genetic puzzle, then you need to make up for that in other ways. 

For instance, there are players at the highest level of the game who have below average speed, but they can pass the puck and make a million dollars doing it. Or maybe they can't pass, can't skate, but they're elite in their defensive reads. Can't pass and can't skate is relative, everyone in the NHL can do everything, but relative strengths and weaknesses exists in every league. 

I was hooked early in Matt's presentation with the highlight of a defenceman's stick taking on a rush through the neutral zone. Nick Blankenburg and Jared Spurgeon do an excellent job of dictating the play just by the posituoning of their stick. The stick comes from the middle out and forces the attackers toward the boards or into a situation where they have to make an elite play. 

I always tell my defenders, when you're defending the rush and the attacker dumps the puck in, you've done your job. 

It's our job to reinforce the habits to do that job. Elite stick habits mean big body defending isn't as important, particularly if the defenceman brings speed and agility into the mix. 

The job of a defenceman without the puck doesn't change based on the size of the player. Take away time and space, thwart the attack, and be ready to pounce on a loose puck before you do the opther half of your job. There's room for everyone in the game (maybe more room for a smaller player than ever before), and it's on the coach to describe the how for individual players, even if the why doesn't change. Clips like the ones Matt is showing will go a long way toward reinforcing belief and structure into your players. Show the clips, talk through it, and watch their confidence build in your next game. 

Check out this snippet from Deschamps' presentation and view the full video here a membership to The Coaches Site.