Brandon Naurato has taken the Wolverines back to the Frozen Four for their third consecutive season in his first two seasons at the helm of the University of Michigan. Naurato has a complete understanding of all aspects of the game and at TCS Live, he took the time to dive deeper into ways to create opportunities from the most underrated area of the ice, the neutral zone. 

The neutral zone may only be the origin of 15% of goals scored in the NHL, but it is a great way to generate offense. The key to having success in transition in the neutral zone is to win races and gain puck control. Naurato focuses on having planned routes for his players to take in their neutral zone transition play. Even in the neutral zone, Naurato wants his players to always create triangles in their structure on the ice and work within five feet of each other. Having close spacing when attacking allows for quick support of all areas on the ice, so that when pucks are bobbled and mishandled there is support right away to get back on the attack through the neutral zone. 

Once successful getting through the neutral zone into the offensive zone, Naurato wants the Wolverines to get into their designed structure as fast as possible. The time when Michigan wants to attack and take advantage of their opposition is when the Wolverines are set in their offensive zone structure. 42% of goals are scored right next to the blue paint with 84% coming from the slot to the net. Having designed routes in the offensive zone that force defenders to push wide and open up space in the middle of the ice is one of the goals of the Wolverines’ offensive zone structure. 

Naurato focuses on building hockey IQ and team cohesiveness in practice drills. Building in drills that focus on neutral zone play that have structure, but also allow for players to make plays and be creative has allowed Michigan to have a strong neutral zone transition game. Naurato lives by the “Rule of 3’s”: puck management, puck support, and puck protection. Naurato believes that development is always the starting point and these are the three areas that Naurato focuses on when teaching the high powered Wolverines’ neutral zone play.

Noteworthy timestamps:

• 0:20 The next wave of offense
• 4:35 Neutral zone transition
• 6:20 Game clip examples
• 11:30 Introducing concepts with drills
• 16:50 Game to drill examples
• 20:20 Pep Neutral Zone drill
• 22:30 Allowing players to play hockey
• 26:25 Final thoughts