Basic Hockey Defensive Strategy and Positioning | NHL 101

In the NHL101 we talk basic defensive strategy, positioning and tactics. What are hockey players supposed to do in the defensive zone? This is the answer in its most basic form. There are plenty of different styles of defense that teams will employ but it all starts here with the basics.
As always, if you have questions do hesitate to leave a comment!
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[@fastronaut909]

I don’t even play hockey, but now I know how to play some great defense. Insomnia squad

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Now that's being prepared! You never know when you could need that information haha

[@kjbren236]

Once you eventually run out of 101 videos, it would be cool to see you apply this kind of content to clips from actual games

[@AnHourOfWolves]

As a D man since I was a child, this is a pretty good basic intro to D positioning! Strong work.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad you think so! I appreciate the comment.

[@richiroproductions8262]

man... this is why we're having a bad season- you didn't do this video in the pre-season for them to follow and practice! :) Thanks for doing this video!

[@ayaanahmad5004]

Ty for

[@Camdenhockey]

This is an excellent video, clear and concise explanation! Great for first time coaches or young hockey players. Thanks for this!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to help!

[@TheTruth459]

Really great 101s, I’ve watched 2 so far and have a much deeper understanding of the sport!

[@gibby03exe79]

That’s the boat I’m in

[@donovandorsha7264]

YESSSSS THE BEST SERIES IS BACK

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Silver lining to the COVID postponements I guess :P

[@SleepyGhst]

Great analysis breakdown!

[@jeffg.1471]

Really well explained and great visuals!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Thanks!

[@RachaelBuchanan83]

Loved it! Thanks!

[@ilycharr5702]

thank you so much!! i’ve been trying to teach my little cousins some of the basics and they won’t really understand how i try to explain! thank you so much 😊

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Hope it helps! Let me know if you (or they maybe more) have any questions!

[@GoYouDeepSeaMonsters]

Good information. Thank you.

[@kidt3068]

Also going behind your own net uses the net as a blocker for protecting the puck and also if the opposing player chases you behind the net, in the break out you’ll have that odd man rush possibility with their guy stuck chasing rather than being in a defensive position.

[@jimmysohi2831]

He is the best explained. He is the best explaining dude.😃😅

[@jimmysohi2831]

I'm sure about that.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad you think so!

[@Nero_790]

These are great for the younger kids I coach. Great job and thank you!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to hear they are useful! Thanks for coaching the next generation!

[@prongATO]

A really good example of this defensive philosophy is really easy to see during penalty kill/PP. (minus one player on D, of course)

[@luckyhaskins69]

great stuff. My Son is the only rookie here In Calumet Michigan on the 10u squirts. first practice he could not stand up on skates. Now he has his first game assist, and is skating pretty well considering it has only been a couple months. The other boys have takin him in and help him along. Awesome stuff. So he is playing defense. All of our 10u teams have good offensive skills. But all of them break down fast on defense. lol. My son and I are focused on playing good D to give our team the edge this season. This is an excellent video for us. Our boys are doing good keeping it in the offensive zone, but the breakaways are not well covered yet. We will be watching your vids bud..THANKS!!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

That's awesome! Good for him sticking with it being the newest player on the team! Learning good defense is always a good place to start and even if he plays forward in the future it helps to be good at both! Glad the videos have been helpful and Congrats on the first assist!

[@zeebaa6]

I'm a Seattle resident and kraken fan, but I appreciate rocking the red. Grew up in the DC area

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I try to mix it up for the 101 videos since it's a more general audience.

[@mattwyro7339]

This is very helpful

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to hear it!

[@carnagegames2121]

Thank you for providing the content! I’m 47 and will be playing my first game this week. I’m sure I’ll make many mistakes, but at least I’ll know where to stand!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I played my first game on ice 4 years ago and I still make a ton of mistakes. Knowing and doing in the moment are very different things so don't worry!

[@mikex558]

Did you have fun in the game?

[@Rymann_23]

Awesome video! Love the analysis but I can't help but think the timing has to be more than just coincidence due to the way the Kraken have been playing defense lately.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Just trying to do my part for the team haha

[@CommunityArchiveRecords]

I'm from florida so we dont have much ice here, but ive been getting into hockey the past 3 years watching it on nhl. I have to thank you so much for putting these out, im trying to figure out why the defense for the panthers has been so crappy, and I gotta learn from the ground up, and more so just enjoy the sport more and know whats happening in front of me.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to help! Especially the way the Panthers play a lot of the issues defensively are caused by quick rush chances that don't allow a defense to get set up. The Panthers like to play a fast high-flying up and down the ice style to create offensive opportunities, the flip side of that is it can leave your defense exposed if a turnover happens.

[@CommunityArchiveRecords]

@@CheapSeatsSports Thank you for the reply! I see how that happens, the panthers wanna skate in through the blueline and score on rushes and put the pressure on them and I can see how that can lead to odd man rushes the other way. Hope you have a happy holidays! Cheers!

[@neongvortex6937]

@@CommunityArchiveRecords fellow panthers fan awesome sucks we didnt win it all

[@CommunityArchiveRecords]

@@neongvortex6937 Yeah but a hell of a run! I went to game 4 against Carolina in Florida, And boy was I not disappointed. Matthew Tkachuk, Barkov, everybody down to Marc Stall played a huge roll and had a big impact throughout the series. Definitely solidified me as a Hockey Fan lol.

[@neongvortex6937]

@michaeljustice9372 Aw, man, wish I was there I was at a bar and it still got pretty loud And I got to go to Game 3 in the 1st round so I can only imagine how crazy it got

[@joseyjenkins6049]

Nice vid. Trying to learn nhl on ps

[@user-dc3cg2br3z]

All I watch is hockey but even times need a good basic breakdown sometimes.

[@m-agirouard3329]

well done

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@KrolKaz]

Thanks

[@CheapSeatsSports]

No problem

[@sss7714]

Thanks man, I’m trying to get better an NHL’s Chel. Can you give me some 3 on 3 tips?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

It's been a while since I played much chel and I know things can be different there than real hockey so I can't guarantee it's the best advice for chel. That said 3 on 3 is all about possession. Because there is so much open ice it is a lot easier for a turnover to turn into a breakaway or odd man rush so teams will do anything to not give up possession unless they have a really good chance to score with a shot.

[@unholy7324]

For some reason that I can't put my finger on I knew you were going to mention Ovi's office.

[@acdii]

One thing I noticed about my team on defense. When the opposing player has the puck and is driving through the neutral zone, the two defense are skating backwards far away and not challenging to get the puck, in the meantime another opposing player is o the far wall rushing to get across the blue line in time so that he can accept a pass, and usually from behind the center defense who is busy watching the opposing player, not the puck. I would think that the one defense in front of the player would be trying to kick or steal the puck away, not skate in front and watch. I never see the opposing teams do such a thing. Bad coaching or what

[@CheapSeatsSports]

It might be coaching. Defensemen are usually taught to keep the play in front of them (to not allow an opposing player to get behind them for a break away). With that said there is usually a point around the blue line or top of the faceoff circles at which they are coached to close up the gap and challenge the person with the puck (unless it's a 2 on 1 rush, those are different).

[@cambodianriverpig7613]

During the 2nd period, does the LD becomes the RD only for the 2nd period? or does he have to switch to the other side to remain LD?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Left and right D and wing is based on which way the team is facing. So when they flip ends of the ice in the 2nd they will play on the other side as you watch it but same side to the players if that makes sense.

[@cambodianriverpig7613]

@@CheapSeatsSports yup, thanks!

[@rileykazama3145]

Nice capitals Jersey

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Thanks!

[@rileykazama3145]

@@CheapSeatsSports your welcome

[@wannabefabrication218]

After my first game in beer league, I now know that none of this matters 😂

[@CheapSeatsSports]

It's not that it doesn't matter in beer league, it's more that no one is good enough or organized enough to actually pull it off consistently. Edit: btw I say that as someone who plays beer league as well and frequently fails to do what I know I should be doing lol

[@wannabefabrication218]

@@CheapSeatsSports 😂 yea I was just joking. I aggressively study the things I’m into and don’t realize that almost no one else will sit and watch videos on positioning like I do. Then I feel like an ass when I try to teach other people what I’ve learned thinking I’m coming off as a “I know more than you” superstar when I’m just trying to help.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

@@wannabefabrication218 haha Makes sense. Yeah I mean for me I obviously know all this stuff but have found knowing what to do and actually doing it are two very different things 😂

[@christopherlheagy]

Someone please share this with Hakstol.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Lol

[@chrispatterson4963]

GO CAPS!!!!

[@claydrew2104]

Send this to the Edmonton oilers to reference… god knows they need help with defense

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I might wait until after they play the Kraken a couple of times coming up but then I can lol

[@Eyescore1]

GO CAPS!

[@TheSnakeskill0012]

I kinda look at center like a QB in football. Is that wrong?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

In the aspect that they are the most important players offensively and have the most responsibility yes, but still nowhere near as much as a QB. The closest to a QB from having everything run through them in hockey is the lone defensemen on the power play which is kinda like a point guard in basketball.

[@TheSnakeskill0012]

@@CheapSeatsSports thanks. That makes sense.

[@yezhao26]

are you a NHL Player?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

No, sadly I'm nowhere near good enough at hockey for that. Knowing and actually doing are very different things sometimes.

[@user-gw9iw2fm5p]

Go rangers

[@iimoxieii2151]

Thank you, great stuff! 🫡

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to do it

[@user-dl1sq6xk7j]

Good information. Thank you.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

You're welcome.