What modern defenseman could become a star forward right now?
- Thread starter Kshahdoo
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Jeremy Hronek
Registered User
DannyGallivan
Your world frightens and confuses me
The three already mentioned for sure. As long as they can skate and pass, they have potential to be a star forward. If they have hands around the net, even better.
Both Burns and Byfuglien were already very successful as forwards.
Both Burns and Byfuglien were already very successful as forwards.
Letang would make a great forward as well. Basically any Offensive defenseman could be a good forward.
Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
Unless they play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Well, okay, it's more leading the rush and playing deep in the offensive zone than forechecking pressure, but it's not as though they're far off from that.
Werenski and Jones were both given the green light to jump up and play whenever they see an opportunity and at one point Torts called Zach a rover, but also keep in mind Zach was playing with what we can assume was a torn or partially torn rotator cuff from October on and still tied for second in goals by a dman without being able to use his slapshot all season.
Hivemind
We're Touched
I think a lot of people undersell the differences in skillset between offensive defensemen and forwards. Playing forward involves a lot more forechecking and digging pucks out of corners. It involves trying to get to the high traffic areas, and battling to keep your stick available to receive a pass when being checked tightly. It's far less about the four-way mobility and walking the blueline that defensemen do. Just because a defenseman can lead the rush or has an excellent snapshot doesn't mean their skillset will translate to the wing. Appreciate elite offensive defensemen for what they are.
That being said, this is also a big part of why Byfuglien and Burns are so special. They have that size and vertical speed on top of the D-man skillset.
That being said, this is also a big part of why Byfuglien and Burns are so special. They have that size and vertical speed on top of the D-man skillset.
Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
Nutivaara does the same thing, although it's not as publicized as those two. And it's not exactly a great strength of his but you'll see Savard deep in the offensive zone on many occasions as well, and doing a decent job of it (turns out board battle ability works pretty well both ways; who knew?
)
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Good post here. I would also add that a lot of defensemen are extremely smooth, balanced skaters but lack the straightaway speed of a star forward. Whereas their biggest skating strength (backward mobility) would be almost entirely wasted as a wing.
When I played, it was either left wing (I prefer right wing now) or defense. There isn't that much difference when battling in the corners or the front of the net. Sure the ability to skate backwards is kind of wasted on a forward, but the added defense experience can help a lot with back checking.
McGarnagle
Yes.
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Probably wouldn't cut it now, but 10 years ago Zdeno Chara would've been a monster in front of the net
Notsince67
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Karlsson already plays protected minutes to score all of those points. He is effectively a forward lining up on D
Panda Bear
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LeProspector
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Notsince67
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Nizdizzle
Offseason Is The Worst Season
Wouldn't be a star, but Jake Gardiner could make for a pretty decent top-6 winger IMO. He is at least passable at board battles, great at handling the puck in the offensive zone. His main weakness of blunders at the blue-line and giving up odd-man rushes wouldn't be as much as a problem as a winger.
Styles
No Light, No Signal
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During the 2013 season they actually used him as the net front presence on the PP for some stretches.
