Defensemen - which side did they play?

[overpass]

As far as I know, it's not recorded anywhere whether defensemen played on the right side or the left side. This strikes me as a major gap in hockey knowledge - both currently and historically. Many defencemen are significantly more comfortable and effective on one side, and it’s clearly something that teams consider when filling out their lineups.

Why not put our heads together as knowledgeable fans of hockey history and see how much we know or can find out in this area? It's a huge topic, so I suggest starting with the Top 60 list that the HOH board created several years ago.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1029907

I’ve listed whether each player was a right or a left shot. There are several players for whom I couldn’t find that information.
I’ve also put whether they were an LD or RD, to the best of my knowledge. If you have anything to add to that, please post! Details are good – it’s best if you can specify the portion of their career you can speak to. Please note that I’m specifically excluding power play usage from this list – many blueliners line up on the opposite side on the power play, and that’s really a different topic.

Feel free to post details for other defencemen as well.

Rank | Player | Shot | Side
1 | Bobby Orr | LHS | RD
2 | Doug Harvey | LHS | RD in the dynasty years and later, LD earlier
3 | Raymond Bourque | LHS | RD in Boston, LD in Colorado
4 | Eddie Shore | RHS | RD
5 | Nicklas Lidstrom | LHS | LD, except in two early seasons when paired with Coffey
6 | Denis Potvin | LHS | LD most of his career, played more RD 1978 and earlier.
7 | Leonard "Red" Kelly | LHS | LD
8 | Viacheslav Fetisov | LHS | LD
9 | Larry Robinson | LHS | Mostly LD in the dynasty years, played more RD starting in 1980
10 | Chris Chelios | RHS | RD
11 | Brad Park | LHS | RD
12 | Francis "King" Clancy | LHS | LD earlier in career, RD later
13 | Paul Coffey | LHS | LD
14 | Pierre Pilote | LHS | RD
15 | Sprague Cleghorn | LHS | RD/coverpoint
16 | Earl Seibert | RHS | RD
17 | Tim Horton | RHS | RD
18 | Al MacInnis | RHS | RD
19 | Scott Stevens | LHS | LD
20 | Chris Pronger | LHS | Mostly RD, played some LD in Hartford and Edmonton
21 | Bill Gadsby | LHS | unsure
22 | Borje Salming | LHS | RD in his 70s/early 80s prime, played some LD later in his career
23 | Brian Leetch | LHS | LD
24 | Aubrey "Dit" Clapper | RHS | RD
25 | Valeri Vasiliev | LHS | RD
26-T | Mark Howe | LHS | Played some RD in his first NHL seasons but was LD from 1984 on
26-T | Bill Quackenbush | LHS | unsure
28 | Serge Savard | LHS | RD/LD
29 | Rod Langway | LHS | LD
30 | Eddie Gerard | LHS | unsure
31 | Jack Stewart | LHS | unsure
32 | Guy Lapointe | LHS | RD/LD
33 | Scott Niedermayer | LHS | RD
34 | Marcel Pronovost | LHS | unsure
35 | Lionel Conacher | LHS | LD
36 | William "Hod" Stuart | ??? | Coverpoint
37 | Ivan "Ching" Johnson | LHS | LD
38 | Jacques Laperriere | LHS | LD
39 | Alexei Kasatonov | LHS | RD
40 | Jean-Claude Tremblay | LHS | RD
41 | Ernest "Moose" Johnson | LHS | LD/coverpoint
42 | Zdeno Chara | LHS | LD/RD
43 | Ebbie Goodfellow | LHS | LD
44 | Rob Blake | RHS | RD
45 | Emile "Butch" Bouchard | RHS | RD
46 | Carl Brewer | LHS | LD
47 | Albert "Babe" Siebert | LHS | LD
48 | Georges "Buck" Boucher | LHS | LD/RD
49 | Jan Suchy | LHS | RD/LD
50 | Larry Murphy | RHS | RD
51 | Ken Reardon | LHS | unsure
52 | Tom Johnson | LHS | RD
53 | Lester Patrick | LHS | Coverpoint
54 | Art Coulter | RHS | RD
55 | Doug Wilson | LHS | LD
56 | Sylvio Mantha | RHS | RD
57 | Harry Cameron | RHS | RD
58 | František Pospišil | LHS | unsure
59 | Allan Stanley | LHS | LD
60 | Harvey Pulford | LHS | Point

Edit: Updated with contributions from Iain Fyffe and others.

Click to read more...

 

[overpass]

My notes are below. For players who have played within the past 15 years, I have listed this from my own viewing experience. I haven't followed every team closely so others may have something to add. For older players, if they were a RHS and were normally partnered with LHS I assume they played RD primarily. If they were a LHS and were normally partnered with a RHS I assume they played LD primarily. There were also several seasons in the 1930s when all-star voting was separated by LD and RD, which can provide useful information.

Orr - Played RD in any games and highlights I've seen. Partners were always LHS. Not aware that he ever played LD in the NHL.
Harvey - Harvey and Tom Johnson were the two RD for Montreal during the 50s dynasty. As a younger player he played LD while paired with RHS Butch Bouchard.
Bourque - Played RD primarily in Boston. Finished his career in Colorado as LD.
Shore - RHS, most of his all-star votes came for RD.
Lidstrom - Played LD his whole career except for 93-94 and 94-95, when he was paired with Coffey and played RD.
Potvin - Played both sides. Earlier in his NHL career he played more RD when paired with Dave Lewis or Gerry Hart, and played LD when paired with his brother, RHS Jean Potvin. Starting in 78-79 he played LD, paired with Bob Lorimer, Gord Lane, Gord Dineen, and Gerald Diduck at ES, Stefan Persson on the PP, and Ken Morrow on the PK.
Fetisov - Played the left side in the long-standing Fetisov-Kasatonov pairing.
Park - Played RD for Canada in 1972 - didn't play with Orr at even strength because they both played RD.
"King" Clancy - Looks like he played both sides based on AS voting. Left side earlier in his career, right side later in his career.
Coffey - Played LD his whole career, but liked to rush up the right side of the ice.
Seibert - Received all-star votes at both LD and RD - BUT his LD votes came in years the league had many high-end RHS defensemen (Shore, Clapper, Coulter, Seibert).
Pronger - In St Louis, Anaheim, and Philly played primarily RD. Played LD in Edmonton (with Jason Smith) and for Canada in international tournaments.
"Dit" Clapper - Mostly RD, unsure which of him or Crawford played right side while they were a rare RHS-RHS pairing.
Savard - Both sides, more RD during the 70s dynasty.
Niedermayer - Played RD most of his NHL career, moved to the left side at times internationally
Conacher - Most of his all-star votes came at LD
"Ching" Johnson - Most of his all-star votes came at LD
Chára - Played mostly on the right side in Ottawa with Chris Phillips. Has played mostly on the left side at ES with Boston.
Goodfellow - Most of his all-star votes came at LD
Bouchard - I assume he played RD - RHS.
Brewer - Played LD while paired with Bobby Baun
"Babe" Siebert - Most of his all-star votes came at LD
Johnson - He and Doug Harvey played most of the minutes at RD for the dynasty Canadiens
Coulter - Received all-star votes at both LD and RD - BUT his LD votes came in years the league had many high-end RHS defensemen (Shore, Clapper, Coulter, Seibert). His most frequent partner (Muzz Patrick) was a LHS.

Stanley - Played LD while paired with Tim Horton.

Edit: Adding a quote from Larry Robinson's book, which matches what Canadiens1958 posted below.

The mentorship started back in Montreal, when Serge used to pair me with every new kid that came to the team as a defenceman. I wouldn't say that it hurt my career, but a lot of times I was playing on the right side, where I didn't feel as comfortable. I preferred the left side, and that's where I played when I was on the blueline with Serge. But all of a sudden, I'd be playing with someone like Gaston Gingras, and because he played left, I was moved over to the right side (being more able to do that). That meant that a lot of times, when the puck came around the boards, I would be on my backhand. I had to reinvent my game and learn to play from the right side.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Here's what I have. No guarantees of 100% accuracy.

Potvin - LD
Kelly - LD
Robinson - RD
Pilote - RD
Cleghorn - RD/CP
Gadsby - LD
Salming - LD
Leetch - LD
Howe - RD
Quackenbush - LD
Langway - LD
Gerard - RD/LD
Stewart - RD/LD
Lapointe - RD
Pronovost - LD/RD
Stuart - CP
Laperriere - LD
Tremblay - RD
Johnson - LD/CP
Boucher - LD/RD
Reardon - RD
Patrick - CP
Mantha - RD
Cameron - RD
Pulford - P

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Of the ones listed in the OP, the only one I question is Serge Savard. Didn't he play LD beside Robinson at RD? I may be mixed up there.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

One thing to bear in mind here is that pairs often switch sides when playing on the power-play. On defence you prefer your forehand on the boards but when a man up you often prefer your forehand at centre ice.

 

[overpass]

Here's what I have. No guarantees of 100% accuracy.

Potvin - LD
Kelly - LD
Robinson - RD
Pilote - RD
Cleghorn - RD/CP
Gadsby - LD
Salming - LD
Leetch - LD
Howe - RD
Quackenbish - LD
Langway - LD
Gerard - RD/LD
Stewart - RD/LD
Lapointe - RD
Pronovost - LD/RD
Stuart - CP
Laperriere - LD
Tremblay - RD
Johnson - LD/CP
Boucher - LD/RD
Reardon - RD
Patrick - CP
Mantha - RD
Cameron - RD
Pulford - P

Thanks.

Looks like you have Robinson and Lapointe at RD, and I listed Savard at RD - obviously at least some of these guys played a fair amount of LD.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Thanks.

Looks like you have Robinson and Lapointe at RD, and I listed Savard at RD - obviously at least some of these guys played a fair amount of LD.

Well I know that Savard and Robinson mostly played together. And I've seen video that show Robinson at RD and Savard at LD, but I can't say for sure whether that was usual for them.

 

[overpass]

Well I know that Savard and Robinson mostly played together. And I've seen video that show Robinson at RD and Savard at LD, but I can't say for sure whether that was usual for them.

I'd be interested in hearing more from others on this. As far as I could tell Savard played RD and Robinson LD.

See 11:10 of this video - Robinson is on the left and Savard is on the right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q55ZmRjBZ4

Robinson's hit against Dornhoefer came on the LD side.

http://video.canadiens.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=121009

See the videos of Savard's spinorama - all on the right side of the ice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjYbtijeSWs

My question re: Robinson is what side he played in the 80s after Savard left.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

As far as I'm aware, Fetisov was strictly a LD. With both Kasatonov and Konstantinov.

Leetch was a LD with Beukeboom, also with Chelios internationally.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

See the videos of Savard's spinorama - all on the right side of the ice.

At least some of those are on the PP, though, and we can't be sure he played the same point as the side he played at ES. But like I said, I'm not certain I have them correct.

My question re: Robinson is what side he played in the 80s after Savard left.

He killed penalties at least with Craig Ludwig, who played LD.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Just threw in a DVD of the 1977 Cup final, Robinson definitely started at LD and Savard at RD.

Edit: And then I checked the 1986 final, and Robinson started at RD beside Rick Green at LD.

 

[overpass]

Just threw in a DVD of the 1977 Cup final, Robinson definitely started at LD and Savard at RD.

I just checked Game 6 and Game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series - Lapointe lined up on the left and Savard on the right.

I'll mark all 3 of Lapointe, Robinson, and Savard as playing both sides for now.

You had Bill Gadsby as LD - does that include both his time for the Rangers and the Red Wings? The Rangers' blueline were mostly LHS during his scoring peak and I wondered if Gadsby played on the right side during that time.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

I'll mark all 3 of Lapointe, Robinson, and Savard as playing both sides for now.

Yes, that sounds right now. Lapointe and Savard primarily RD, Robinson probably pretty close to 50/50 for his career.

You had Bill Gadsby as LD - does that include both his time for the Rangers and the Red Wings? The Rangers' blueline were mostly LHS during his scoring peak and I wondered if Gadsby played on the right side during that time.

Yes, sorry that one was from memory. Looking at my notes I do believe he played RD in NY.

 

[overpass]

Here's a related question for the board.

We've had our share of debates about Nicklas Lidstrom's all-time rank among defensemen. We almost all agree that Orr is #1, and most would put someone other than Lidstrom at #2, although he's definitely in the mix. But can we agree that Lidstrom is the greatest left defenceman of all time? Shore, Harvey, Orr, and Bourque all played primarily on the right side. Some might pick Denis Potvin over Lidstrom, but at this point that would be a minority opinion.

If you were picking an all-time five man unit, would you pick Lidstrom at LD? Or would you slide one of Harvey, Orr, or Bourque to the left side?

 

[Killion]

If you were picking an all-time five man unit, would you pick Lidstrom at LD? Or would you slide one of Harvey, Orr, or Bourque to the left side?

Greatest All Time would be Orr with Lidstrom. Period. 5 Man? Who cares? You could put slugs up-front & those two guys would elevate their games.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Here's a related question for the board.

We've had our share of debates about Nicklas Lidstrom's all-time rank among defensemen. We almost all agree that Orr is #1, and most would put someone other than Lidstrom at #2, although he's definitely in the mix. But can we agree that Lidstrom is the greatest left defenceman of all time? Shore, Harvey, Orr, and Bourque all played primarily on the right side. Some might pick Denis Potvin over Lidstrom, but at this point that would be a minority opinion.

If you were picking an all-time five man unit, would you pick Lidstrom at LD? Or would you slide one of Harvey, Orr, or Bourque to the left side?

Count me in the minority that would put Potvin ahead of Lidstrom.

 

[Budddy]

Here's a related question for the board.

We've had our share of debates about Nicklas Lidstrom's all-time rank among defensemen. We almost all agree that Orr is #1, and most would put someone other than Lidstrom at #2, although he's definitely in the mix. But can we agree that Lidstrom is the greatest left defenceman of all time? Shore, Harvey, Orr, and Bourque all played primarily on the right side. Some might pick Denis Potvin over Lidstrom, but at this point that would be a minority opinion.

If you were picking an all-time five man unit, would you pick Lidstrom at LD? Or would you slide one of Harvey, Orr, or Bourque to the left side?

Orr and Bourque would be epic....

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Count me in the minority that would put Potvin ahead of Lidstrom.

And I'm in an even smaller minority that would probably pick Red Kelly ahead of both of them.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Here's a related question for the board.

We've had our share of debates about Nicklas Lidstrom's all-time rank among defensemen. We almost all agree that Orr is #1, and most would put someone other than Lidstrom at #2, although he's definitely in the mix. But can we agree that Lidstrom is the greatest left defenceman of all time? Shore, Harvey, Orr, and Bourque all played primarily on the right side. Some might pick Denis Potvin over Lidstrom, but at this point that would be a minority opinion.

If you were picking an all-time five man unit, would you pick Lidstrom at LD? Or would you slide one of Harvey, Orr, or Bourque to the left side?

I think you put your best players where they are at their most dominant and build around them, so Bobby Orr at RD. As for the left side, I think Harvey and Lidstrom have the more compatible skillsets with Bobby Orr, as defense-first defensemen at even strength. Sure, Bourque, Kelly, and Potvin were great defensively too, but I feel you lose a little by asking one of them to stay back while Orr does his thing.

So I think at LD, it's a tough choice between Harvey - a tad better than Lidstrom IMO who played RD at even strength for most of his prime, but LD on the PK, and at ES early in his career - and Lidstrom himself. I'd lean towards Harvey, since it's always easier to convert over to your "proper" handed side, rather than the reverse. I think a lot of the superstar LH shots who play RD just did it because it's easier for the most skilled players to play their off-side.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Details

One thing to bear in mind here is that pairs often switch sides when playing on the power-play. On defence you prefer your forehand on the boards but when a man up you often prefer your forehand at centre ice.

The great Canadiens Power Play of the late fifties saw Doug Harvey(LHS) play the left point while Bernie Geoffrion (RHS), regularly a RW dropped back to play the right point. Forwards were usually Olmstead or Moore at LW, Beliveau at C and Maurice Richard at RW.. Maurice Richard as we all know played his off-wing LHS playing RW.

The basic idea in the fifties was to spread the offesive alignment, taking advantage of the wider passing and shooting lanes to generate movement while driving the net.

Today the point men narrow the the Power Play RHS plays the left point, while LHS plays the right point to get more favourable shooting angles.

Also a few comments about defensemen and the positions they played.

Doug Harvey(LHS) played mainly RD after Butch Bouchard retired but he would play LD to match up against certain RW like Gordie Howe, Andy Bathgate, etc.

Leafs believed in the RHS / RD and LHS/LD but would swithc at times against a strong off-side winger like Maurice Richard to take away his stick side.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Let's talk about Paul Coffey, who is listed at RD in the OP.

Video available online of the 1983 Cup final shows that the Oilers used the following pairings:

LD Lowe - RD Fogolin
LD Jackson - RD Gregg
LD Coffey - RD Huddy

Similarly in the 1987 final it seems to be:

LD Lowe - RD Muni
LD Smith - RD Gregg
LD Coffey - RD Huddy

In the 1991 finals the Penguins had Murphy, Taglianetti and Stanton paying RD, and when Coffey played it was generally with Larry Murphy (RHS).

Post 2 says he played RD in Edmonton "for sure" - so were these Cup finals anomalies? He certainly played a lot of right point on the PP. I also found a quote where he said his first partner was Gary Lariviere, who was RHS, but that would have only been one season at most so it's not much to go on.

 

[Appleyard]

Jan Suchy was a lefty, he played both sides from what I have seen but generally lined up on the right more often than not.

At least he did for Czechoslovakia anyway. 1968 OG and 1969 WC are the only videos of him I have ever seen and he was on the right at EV but left point on the PP.

Also Valeri Vasiliev played mainly on the right.

 

[Appleyard]

I am also fairly certain Harvey Pulford was a lefty.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

I am also fairly certain Harvey Pulford was a lefty.

Yes he was a LHS, but when he played there were no left defencemen or right defencemen, there were point and cover-point. He played point the vast majority of the time.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Cameron - I assume he played RD - RHS.

^ Cameron is specifically listed at RD in this team photo from 1918.

Edit: note that this photo is indeed from 1918, even though it says "1918-19". The Arenas won the Cup in spring 1918. I guess the rationale was that they didn't relinquish their title until spring 1919, hence they were called the 1918-1919 champions. Today we would think of it as them being champions of the 1917-1918 season.