Few players understand the art of shooting from the blueline quite like Maxim Noreau. Born in Montréal, Noreau rose through the QMJHL ranks with the Victoriaville Tigres before signing with the Minnesota Wild for a cup of coffee as an undrafted free agent. His career spanned the NHL, AHL, and several seasons in Switzerland, where he became one of the most respected offensive defencemen in Europe. He suited up for HC Ambrì-Piotta, SC Bern, ZSC Lions, and SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, earning a reputation for his vision, shot, and leadership.

Internationally, Noreau has been a key part of Team Canada, helping capture bronze at the 2018 Olympic Games, where he was named to the tournament all-star team, and representing Canada again in 2022. He also captained Canada to multiple Spengler Cup medals.

Now retired from playing, Noreau is dedicated to developing the next generation of players through Noreau Hockey and his role as a Skills Development Coach with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. His approach blends professional habits with accessible teaching methods, helping young players think, move, and shoot like pros.

At TCS Live 2025 in Ann Arbor, inside the storied walls of Yost Arena, Noreau shared his passion for one of the defining skills of his own career: shooting from the point. Rather than overwhelm the coaches in attendance with endless variations, he focused on two key shot types, each built on the same fundamental concepts of movement, body alignment, and puck preparation.

“Get your feet around the puck and create power.”

That was Noreau’s first point, and one he returned to again and again. Too many players, he said, rely on their wrists alone to generate force. While that might work for elite players at higher levels, it is not efficient or repeatable for most defencemen. Instead, he encourages players to use their entire body, the hips, legs, and shoulders, to build torque and drive through the puck.

In one of his staple drills, players collect diagonal passes and focus on getting their feet around the puck before shooting. The diagonal angle, Noreau explained, ensures that the puck arrives in a comfortable, shootable spot, teaching players to adjust their positioning as they receive it.

“The way you pass is the way you shoot.”

That connection is central to Noreau’s teaching. For him, shooting starts with passing. The mechanics of giving and receiving a puck, such as soft hands, proper body angle, and efficient weight transfer, are the foundation for every shot a defenceman takes from the point. It is no surprise, then, that he often builds his shooting progressions out of passing drills.

He calls it “cowboy style,” receiving the puck and driving the front knee forward to release. It is a simple, powerful visual that helps players engage the full body and stay balanced through the motion.

As his session evolved, Noreau layered in complexity, moving players across the blueline and adding movement into the setup. But the message never changed. Get your feet around the puck, use the body, and shoot with purpose. Every detail tied back to those first principles.

“Shooting from the blue line isn’t about hammering it. It’s about timing, body control, and connection.”

Coaches’ Challenge:

In your next practice, turn a few of your passing reps into shooting reps. Focus on how players receive the puck, how their feet set, and how they generate torque through their core. Remind your defencemen that the best point shots come from rhythm, not brute strength.

Noteworthy timestamps:

• 0:00 NHL examples
• 1:30 Open hip pass reception to shot
• 5:20 NHL examples
• 6:25 Lateral push pass reception to shot
• 10:00 Cowboy Style pass reception to shot
• 14:15 Two shot D patterns
• 19:20 Screen progression