News Article: NHL teams going old-school when it comes to utilizing their defenceman

[Buffaloed]

NHL teams going old-school when it comes to utilizing their defenceman | The Star

Ralph Krueger may be onto something

Brendan Smith - Rangers
Mark Pysyk - Panthers

Smith is one of a couple of throwback-style players bouncing between forward and defence this season. He and Florida’s Mark Pysyk are the latest to follow the lead of Hall of Famers Red Kelly and Mark Howe and present-day Brent Burns and Dustin Byfuglien, and their experience could open the door for more multi-position players in a sport that usually defines being a centre, wing or defenceman very specifically.

Quenneville likes having a defenceman at forward at times because they tend think of the game more conservatively.
“They usually have that mindset of being above the puck, so they keep themselves in the play, and defensively they have that responsibility,” Quenneville said. “You get to handle the puck a little bit more, but I think they’re always in that position where offensively they’re complementing the guys they’re playing with, being either the safety guy or the extra guy that’s always going to be in the right spots.”

Click to read more...

 

[SundherDome]

Witkowski also did it for Det/Tampa. But he was more in the face punching business.

I'm fine if it is something he wants to do because Lord knows our dmen struggle with playing defense.

 

[DJN21]

so make Risto a winger? who ever would've thought of that?!

 

[Orange Fanta]

Could explain the unreasonable amount defensemen we have, could be interesting with dahlin and risto the power defensemen
Edit: Maybe dahlin was our 2c all along

 

[dortt]

Could explain the unreasonable amount defensemen we have, could be interesting with dahlin and risto the power defensemen
Edit: Maybe dahlin was our 2c all along

Dahlin should be moved to number 2 center. Hed fit the system far better as a c than a d. Plus, i think he would go ppg over the year and be a perennial selke finalist. Basically, a much improved ror

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

So their trade value has been ruined? Am I doing this right?

 

[TehDoak]

So their trade value has been ruined? Am I doing this right?

Pysyk had very little to start with

No one is touching that Smith contract, he has negative value.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Wow..... "old school" for me is pre Bobby Orr.

Amazing that Lindy Ruff is now "old school".

LoL!

 

[hizzoner]

Wow..... "old school" for me is pre Bobby Orr.

Amazing that Lindy Ruff is now "old school".

LoL!

Like Doug Harvey and Bill Gadsby?

 

[brian_griffin]

Any lineup which puts the Sabres 18 best puck-possession players on the ice each night is fine by me. Step 2 would be to put 18 NHL-caliber players on the ice each game. Baby steps.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Like Doug Harvey and Bill Gadsby?

I can honestly say both were before my times............. Never saw Eddie Shore either......

 

[hizzoner]

I can honestly say both were before my times............. Never saw Eddie Shore either......

2 great players--Harvey was one of my favourites. Never saw Eddie Shore though!

 

[dortt]

One BIG advantage of moving Dahlin to center or Risto to the wing

Next year's expansion draft. We can protect 3 other defensemen if one of those two plays a year at forward