How to watch a defenseman
Watch the gap, the passing lane, the net-front box-out and the first pass. Then check discipline.
How it works
Gap at the blue line
Watch the space between the defender and the puck carrier at the blue line. Look for the defender standing the attacker up as the play arrives.
Stick in the passing lane
Look away from the puck for a moment. Is the defender's stick in the path between the carrier and the intended receiver?
Box out at the net front
Watch the defender's position relative to the attacker and the net. Look for the box-out that keeps the attacker from taking the space at the goal.
First pass out of the zone
Follow the defender after the puck is recovered. Watch the first pass out of the zone, not just the recovery itself.
Add discipline
Keep minors taken and minors drawn in the picture. Discipline belongs alongside the work at the line, in the lane and around the net.
D = defender · × = attacker · dashed line = puck path. Schematics show where to look.
Gap at the blue line
Stick in the passing lane
Net-front box-out
First pass out
The formula
The formula
This is a viewing checklist, not a scored formula: gap + passing lane + net-front box-out + first pass, with minors taken versus drawn alongside. No numerical weights are assigned to these observations.
How we tested it
| Check | Finding |
|---|---|
| Gap | Watch the space at the blue line. |
| Passing lane | Follow the stick between passer and receiver. |
| Net front | Look for the box-out. |
| First pass | Follow the puck out of the zone. |
| Discipline | Compare minors taken with minors drawn. |
Use the checklist to guide attention. It has not been presented as a validated player rating.
What it can't tell you
A few watched plays cannot establish a complete player ranking. This checklist gives you specific actions to follow; it does not assign a goals-added value to each one.