Want more offence from your blueliners? Of course you do, everyone wants to score more goals. Keith Paulsen is an Assistant Coach at Minnesota State University and he’s got the goods when it comes to offence from the defence.
The modern defenceman can skate, move the puck, defend, and get involved in the offence. Stay at home types are rare these days. They exist, no question, but the more tools a defender has in their toolbox, the more ice time they’re likely to receive. You don’t just want to be a threat in your own end of the rink.
These up-tempo, skilled defencemen can play a crucial role in generating offensive opportunities for their team. And their ability to contribute to scoring goes far beyond simply preventing goals against.
For Paulsen, the offensive zone is the reward for a strong defensive zone. Defencemen need to win the lane, win the race to the puck, retrieve and move it north. During this presentation, Paulsen demonstrates how he teaches his D to gather the puck and execute the next play.
After that?
Join the Rush
Defencemen who activate from the defensive zone and join offensive rushes as the trailing player can create odd-numbered situations and provide an extra passing option. Forwards love curling back and hitting the D in stride for a scoring chance. This fourth attacker mentality puts additional pressure on opposing defenders who must account for more threats, and it forces opposing forwards to back-check a lot harder, which they aren’t always a fan of.
Shoot from the Point
Defencemen who can consistently get shots through from the point generate scoring chances either on their own or through deflections and rebounds. It’s not only the initial shot that’s dangerous - defending is difficult in these situations because the puck’s path is unpredictable. Teams that shoot from the point inevitably recover the puck more often than not and are able to reload for another chance. Purposefully shooting wide can create bank plays off the end boards as well. Quick wrist shots are often more effective than big slapshots because they're harder to block and get through to the net faster. Teach your D to just get it past the first layer of defence.
Lateral Movement
Walking the blueline - moving laterally along the offensive zone blue line - forces wingers to defend in an uncomfortable area. They have to shift, which opens passing and shooting lanes. This movement creates confusion and forces opposing forwards to make difficult decisions about who to cover.
Pinching and Cycle Support
Get off the blue line! Defencemen who dive into the offensive zone to pinch along the walls can keep pucks alive in the offensive zone and maintain offensive pressure. There’s a lot of room for creativity in these situations. Supporting the cycle low in the zone creates passing options and prevents easy breakouts. However, defencemen must read the play carefully to avoid odd-man rushes against.
Transition Game
Quick, accurate breakout passes and reloads in the neutral zone can spring forwards for scoring chances the opponents might not be ready for. Defencemen who can make tape-to-tape passes through the neutral zone or stretch passes behind the defence create instant offence. Additionally, carrying the puck with speed through the neutral zone forces opposing teams to respect the rush and backs them off their blue line.
Modern defencemen who master these offensive skills while maintaining defensive responsibility become invaluable assets to their team's scoring ability.
Noteworthy Timestamps:
- 1:45 Breakouts - Offence at the puck
- 4:25 Offence away from the puck
- 7:15 NHL examples
- 13:35 Drills Design - Parts, whole, part
- 15:15 Breakout Drills - D Development/Split
- 19:35 Breakout Drills - BO Progression
- 23:15 Breakout Drills - Bruins Breakout
- 27:10 Breakout Drills - Calgary Speed BO
- 28:35 Breakouts - Live game action
- 31:00 IZO Drills - D Development/Split
- 36:40 In-Zone Offence
