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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.”
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.”