I know that I can be too literal sometimes, but there is something that confuses me. I seem to remember people discussing defensemen and, on more than one occasion, saying stuff like (clumsily paraphrased): "Player X is a good offensive defensemen, but is not the best defensively."
That doesn't make sense to me. I mean, great if a defenseman can contribute offensively, but what is the purpose of a defenseman if they are not good at defense?
This is actually a great question for hockey noobs, so let's dive into what it means to be a defenseman in hockey.
(Side note: The term "defense" is kind of imperfect & a little misleading. Friends from Nordic countries have told me the translation for the position is more like "back", which I like a whole lot better.)
Anyway, in the simplest terms, a defenseman's main job is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. But *how* they do that can differ quite a bit, depending on the player. I'll simplify this best I can (with the caveat that this is more nuanced during actual gameplay), but there are basically 3 types of defensemen:
Defensive defensemen- (AKA stay-at-home, shutdown) This is probably what most people think about when they picture a defenseman. This is a player who stays in position, doesn't take risks, and puts almost all their focus on shutting down the opposition however they can.
They block, hit, check, battle, whatever they have to do to stop the other team from scoring. Typically big, physical guys who use simple plays to get things done. Their best work is done in their own defensive zone. When the play moves forward, they're usually the ones skating the blue line to make sure the puck stays in the O-zone.
These players know when to challenge, are quick on the rebound, and are great at moving play away from their own net and towards the boards. They're typically decent skaters with fast and accurate passes who will occasionally score from the blue line but won't rack up a lot of points in a season. These are the guys you want on the ice against the opposing team's best players and who you want on your penalty kill.
Offensive defensemen- (AKA puck-moving) These are players who almost act as a 4th forward on the ice. They defend less by trying to shut down their opponents, and more by trying to get the puck back into their offensive zone or by creating the offense themselves.
Usually very skilled puck-handlers, they make far riskier plays than a stay-at-home defenseman. They'll make a stretch pass to a forward, move out of position to force a turnover or sometimes even lead the rush themselves.
These are the players who typically quarterback the power play. They find open space, create chances for the forwards or just take the shot themselves. They're typically fast skaters who can quickly jump into the rush, but also get back into position if the other team regains posession.
These players have an excellent and accurate shot. They're creative and hard to predict. The very best offensive defenseman can be the top scorers on their team.
Two-way defensemen- (AKA hybrid, transitional) As the name implies, these players are a combination of offensive and defensive defensemen. They're good at pretty much everything: skating, passing, blocking, checking, shooting. They have excellent hockey IQ and vision, reading the game so they know when it's the right time to make an offensive push and when it's the right time to lock in defensively.
They can both create and stop an odd-man rush. They can make and receive high-danger passes. They excel in efficiently moving the puck out of the defensive zone, safely through the neutral zone, and onto a forward's stick. Think calm and controlled.
These players also have a strong and accurate shot, but they won't rack up as many points as an offensive defenseman because they don't take as many risks. They need to be fast and agile, but also physical when necessary and strong on the puck. This type of player is another solid choice to QB a powerplay, and they typically have a really good slapshot from the point.
So, getting back to your original question, *all* defensemen should be good at the basics of defense (blocking shots, clearing the puck, body checking, battling in the corners, covering shooting lanes, trapping the puck, covering their man), but some D-men are frankly pretty bad at that part of the game. They're far more skilled at getting the puck out of the D zone or creating scoring chances themselves.
A good team has many different types of defensemen, and knows the best time to deploy them. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post about San Jose's defense and who I'm hoping to see paired up in the upcoming season.
Thinking about how Mack didn’t do the Grouse Grind with Will, and how somehow, out of everything they did together that week, that’s the biggest indication that he loves him. Like, he truly, really loves that boy.
So I was thinking about Cat and her pseudo kids, and I love the idea of cat forcing a weekly “family dinner” with her NHL kids. So curious if you have any thoughts on how a family dinner with WillMack + SaMisa + Cat and Toff might go. It’s been bouncing around my brain lol
i love that idea too! and i can definitely imagine her enforcing that, especially if none of them are living with her next year 🥺
in terms of how it plays out, i can see misa & will getting there early — misa helps set the table & makes the salad, while will helps her cook the actual meal. misa asks a million questions, no matter how many times he’s done these things: where do the forks go again? should i add the dressing to the salad now? do you think i could use ketchup to make my own dressing? will also brings a new dessert item he’s been testing out, each time.
mack arrives mid-cooking & proceeds to get in the way at every turn, until will asks him to please take stella for a walk (get that man out of the damn kitchen!!). stella gives up after 5 minutes and mack proceeds to carry her around the block, so will doesn’t get upset w him for coming back too soon.
sam arrives last, right before the meal is ready — he opens his trunk and a six-pack of beer falls out, causing a can to explode on the ground (#iykyk, see below the cut). he brings the rest in & has to warn everyone to take a beer at their own risk. toff forces him to powerwash their entire driveway at a later date.
assuming everyone in this scenario is legitimately coupled up (or, honestly, even if not), willmack sweetly plays footsie under the table during dinner, while sam constantly eats off of misa’s plate without him realizing it, until misa is finally like, “hey, where did all my pasta go?!”. there is much idiotic banter to be had amongst the young guns. cat watches everything unfold fondly & toff spends the entire evening ruefully shaking his head & losing years off his life. will & misa sneak food to stella the whole time (between sam & stella, does misa get to eat any of his own food?? the world may never know). they cap the night off with wine & catan 💕
It's us. You and me. In San Jose, on the ice, with our teammates, without our teammates. It's us. You and me. In Vancouver. Your city. Your friends, your family. It's you and me. In Boston. My home. My friends, my family. It's us. Together. Always and forever.
Will piscean lover of life is so endearing because he’s so infectious with it! Loves romcoms and sweet things and making memories and keeping mementos! It’s his constant water sign energy… his ever present sentimentality… his sweetly playful and elusive charm… always such a people pleaser… polite and extremely likable but also self indulgent… the need to control every little thing… fearful of being caught off guard… avoids conflict at all costs and instead retreats into his own little world… never forgets anything… holds grudges… loves to put on a show…
Sensitive boy who will romanticize everything! Referring to a small reservoir in the woods a pond and saying it’s “where dreams were being dreamt.” Almost every story post from rookie year being of the ocean, comforted by bodies of water and loves giving little hints of being there with people who mean a lot to him! Nostalgic even when the moment is still present, already missing what is not yet past! Always aware of the passing of time! Holding onto boyhood and youth because you never get it back!
His piscean ways also being all over who he is as a hockey player. It being how he got into hockey in the first place: drawn to the aesthetics of a thing -> baby will wanting to play hockey because he loved the jerseys, running around playing dress up in his dad’s buddy’s jersey after begging him to bring it over. Always drawn to a higher purpose, dreams bigger than himself, highly driven but never feeling drawn to a leadership role, preferring to be the support and a part of something bigger than himself. Extremely competitive but not at all combative, even in a sport as violent as hockey. His strong reactivity to criticism, motivated by proving people wrong about him (gets benched -> goes the fuck off). The way he retreats into a corner when things aren't going well for him rather than externalizing any of that energy. Taking eons to start to trust Mack with that particular side of him even while being so all in with everything else between them.
Spent all of pisces season completely in his head and having the most obvious no good very bad time, made infinitely worse by mercury retrograding through his sign, only for him to be perfectly fine and back to celebrating life’s many pleasures the moment it passed… dragging his favorite teammates to a book store in columbus and making them do a book club with him. Just so drenched in water sign energy all the time and it's so very special to me.
They spent the summer after rookie season FaceTiming here and there. Then they get back to San Jose and realized wow they really missed each other. But they don’t have to think about that cause they are together so feelings don’t matter-hockey matters.
Then Will’s injury. A clean hard hit that injured Will. Mack flew into a rage on instinct. Heard the thud and saw Will hit the ground. Will barely had gotten up yet before Mack threw the puck away and jumped on Wortherspoon. Mack sitting in the penalty box (while looking like he wanted to die) realized how much he cares about Will while sitting with what he’s done. Will is surprised by the reaction but happy Mack and Eky jumped in for him. Will recovers and everyone is happy again. No one has fully processed their feelings, but it feels different for both of them.
Then a couple weeks later: the Olympics. The time zone differences are more than the couple hrs they are used to in the offseason. So Willmack cannot talk to each other as often or as easily as they are used to. They are shaken by their dependence on each other after realizing how empty their time is without the other. Mack loses and feels the worst he’s ever felt. He’s 19 and just wants to win gold for Canada but cannot no matter how well he plays.
Will should be thrilled cause the US hasn’t won gold in men’s hockey since the 1980 miracle game. But he’s not happy, the cameras cut to a devastated scratched up Mack and Will doesn’t feel the excitement anymore. Will posts nothing to celebrate the USA win but a “For Johnny❤️” repost. In honor of the hockey player he grew up watching play at BC. Mack expects some gloating or teasing from Will over the US beating him, but there’s nothing but support and sympathy. They both realize how much they care through their time apart and neither can ignore their feelings anymore. They don’t talk about it cause then it’s real and has a name, but boy is it real.
back to WM narriessssss!!!!
the video of mack in the penalty box killssss me. he really looks like he's almost spiraling about what he did and how real this has all become...im also such a believer of their rookie offseason being their yearning for each other summer
(remember to mute the tag 'wm narries' if u don't want me clogging up your feed!!)
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