NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

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  • RaychelSnr
    Executive Editor
    • Jan 2007
    • 4845

    #1

    NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

    If there is anything rarer than seeing a human goalie between the pipes for an EASHL game, it is seeing two defensemen on the back line who do not:

    1. Whine endlessly about being stuck in a position they do not want to play.

    2. Give up a ton of scoring opportunities to the other team because they have no clue how to play the position.

    But, if you are one of the few Bash Brothers out there, crack open an ice-cold drink mister lonely EASHL defenseman.

    You will not feel lonely anymore!

    Read More - NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman
    OS Executive Editor
    Check out my blog here at OS. Add me on Twitter.
  • Qb
    All Star
    • Mar 2003
    • 8797

    #2
    Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

    I am eternally grateful to the guys on our squad that play D full-time. And they do it quite well, might I add. I'll hop back there every now & then if it's necessary, as we always want to play with 2 human D-men. But the guys that do it night after night are the real troopers...

    Comment

    • N51_rob
      Faceuary!
      • Jul 2003
      • 14805

      #3
      It's funny I had never played a game as a defense men in NHL 09. Then I had the "game of my life" as a defensemen, and I enjoyed it. I was able to keep the puck in the zone a few times got off a nice slap shot from the point, and played really well at the other end of the ice. I think that I will play there more often. I found the diagram of legal hitting areas helpful. I was mindful of the check because I didn't want to take to many penalties while on defense.
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      • statnut
        Pro
        • Jul 2004
        • 566

        #4
        "Defenders who venture below the outer edge of the face-off circles are simply playing too deep in the offensive zone and are liable to give up a scoring opportunity at the other end of the ice."

        I have to disagree with this. A good offensive defenseman will recognize that there are opportunities to slip in for a quick shot below that mark, without getting caught. I play mostly defense for a good club, and no one has any problems with this.

        Comment

        • allstar3970
          Rookie
          • Mar 2008
          • 166

          #5
          i think a big issue regarding slot coverage is that a lot of forwards dont play D/backcheck, they're just waiting by the blueline for the puck to rush up ice, so dmen have to chase more than they would normally have to.

          Comment

          • Scheib43
            Rookie
            • Jul 2007
            • 38

            #6
            Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

            Ah, that's mighty nice of you Qb. I enjoy playing D on our team because we all move the puck and it's definitely a team effort. I am grateful for a center who wins faceoffs and puts the puck in the net and still takes care of his defensive responsibilities.

            The guys who play D every night on their respective OTP teams realize that for a good OTP team you have to have a committed pair of defensemen who will sacrafice their offense at times to make sure the team isn't always playing from behind.

            Also Statnut you are right there are definitely times where the D man can sneak into the offensive zone, but it takes a good team to make sure that your defensive partner then centers himself and plays back or that one of the forwards sees this and then covers the other point. I've played somewhere around 125-150 games with my defensive partner and at first I was frustrated at times with the way things were done by both him and I, but the more we played together, the more we realized tendencies like you would playing outside of NHL09 and now opponent breakaways are a thing of the past.
            Last edited by Scheib43; 04-02-2009, 12:01 PM.

            Comment

            • Qb
              All Star
              • Mar 2003
              • 8797

              #7
              Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

              Originally posted by Scheib43
              I am grateful for a center who wins faceoffs and puts the puck in the net and still takes care of his defensive responsibilities.
              As Meatloaf once sang, "two outta three ain't bad..."

              Comment

              • Methlab
                MVP
                • Oct 2003
                • 2384

                #8
                GREAT ARTICLE.

                Also, a very high % goal is to drive in from the point with a skilled Dman as the opposing team's defense breaks down. Many times you get a clear shot 5 feet from the net for an upper 90 score. I have done this one countless times actually. The risk is giving up the break on the other end, but you will see your teammates screen their guys for you when you have a lane if you practice this in 5 on 5 practice mode.

                Doing this in EAHL play would be a nice tactic.

                Comment

                • blinkfan77
                  Rookie
                  • Feb 2006
                  • 328

                  #9
                  Also, if you are playing OTP, and you are a D-man, and you jump in the rush, a good teammate playing forward, or strong or weak side D, will shift over to cover your back when needed. This is why playing as a real team is so much fun and pays dividends. I LOVE playing Defense.

                  Comment

                  • LanteriX
                    MVP
                    • Feb 2004
                    • 1624

                    #10
                    Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

                    I play pretty much textbook D, but I only enjoy it when I play with a club. Nothing like being completely left out of the game on the offensive end when you play with random OTPers that don't understand what a pass back to the point is.

                    Comment

                    • tyler289
                      MVP
                      • Jul 2006
                      • 2933

                      #11
                      Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

                      My EASHL team uses the defensemen a lot in the offensive zone, luckily we have 5-6 guys who always play defense. I'm a forward, and I try to keep them involved, and someone always covers.

                      Comment

                      • rawgamer
                        Rookie
                        • Aug 2002
                        • 53

                        #12
                        Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

                        I'm primarily a forward, but since I have over 150 games on defense I grew to understand and appreciate how the everyday dmen grind it on a daily basis. If a talented offensively dman gets the puck and has a chance to score especially after a turnover you have to let them go for it. Circling around the neutral zone so that a forward skates it in usually just leads to a lesser scoring opportunity or a stupid turnover and you don't even register a shot at all. Many division one teams with their drama queen forwards are guilty of this as very few top teams really utilize their defense at all to their full potential. The teams that do are the elite teams.

                        Comment

                        • FredoXV
                          Rookie
                          • Apr 2008
                          • 32

                          #13
                          Although I have not yet ventured into the ranks of the EASHL, I have been playing a pretty lengthy be-a-pro mode as an offensive defenseman, and I have to say that your points are spot on.

                          The one point I do disagree with (slightly) is the position in the offensive zone. You are largely correct, however there are some instances when you can slip inside to a high-percentage area for a wrist shot or one-timer, and still be okay to retreat to the proper position. These opportunities occur mostly on the power play, but every so often (maybe twice a game), you can find a good scoring opportunity in 5-on-5 situations.

                          You really have to be certain though, because ill-timed advance or offensive zone turnover can be disastrous.

                          Comment

                          • Money99
                            Hall Of Fame
                            • Sep 2002
                            • 12695

                            #14
                            Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

                            Great article.

                            I'm someone that enjoys playing Defense in EASHL.

                            I have a problem with pinching too often at times, but I try my best to play good D and jump in when I can.

                            Comment

                            • fugazi
                              MVP
                              • Apr 2003
                              • 3749

                              #15
                              Re: NHL 09: The Lonely Defenseman

                              sorry guys...i wish i had next gen and some free-time, bc i am a very good video game hockey defender and enjoy it. i would have absolutely no problem playing D all day.
                              Australian Rules Football...just sayin'

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