As an assistant coach with the University of Michigan’s Men’s Hockey squad, Matt Deschamps has the opportunity to work with some of the best young, up and coming defenders the game has to offer. An area that Deschamps focuses on is developing defensive habits in undersized defensemen.

While having size as a defenseman is something that a scout looks for, there are 40 defensemen that are under 6-feet tall in the NHL, many of whom are thriving at hockey’s highest level. Deschamps broke down the traits that made these undersized defenseman able to make names for themselves in the NHL. 

• The Mind: The first trait Deschamps identified is the sharpness of their minds. Undersized defensemen have an elite ability to read speed and threats all over the ice. Using their high hockey IQ to make up for the lack size allows them to keep up and drive plays from the blueline. 
• The Feet: The next common trait is in the efficiency of the defensemen's feet. They have quick skating that focuses on angling and surfing on the blue line. Having strong edges to get to their opponents and break up plays is key for a smaller defenceman.
• The Body: Despite not having the size, using your body as a small D-man is still a massive factor towards success. They use their body to get through an opponent’s hands which stops a forward’s momentum and kills plays. In turn, this leads to quick transitions up the ice. Getting through an opponent's hands takes away their stick and then allows for supporting players to help finish the play. 
• The Stick: Arguably, the most important habit for smaller D-man is to have a strong stick. The detail of where your stick should be on the ice is key. Understanding what, as a defender, you are giving to the opposition and what you are taking away. The stick of a D-man dictates the play for the attacking forward and forces them to make the next decision based on what is being given to them. 

Making things complicated for the opposition is something that every defenseman can do, but it must be practiced, especially for an undersized defenseman. Creating drills that focus on these four primary factors will benefit the smaller defensemen and allow them to be successful despite their size.

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 0:25 Undersized D in the NHL
• 1:30 Key defensive habits
• 3:00 NHL game clip examples
• 6:20 Development session - angling
• 10:10 Defensive details
• 12:30 Development session - getting through hands
• 16:15 Summary