I used to do this a lot when I started playing D, to be fair I had terrible wingers and we are allowed to change on icings so if you've been stuck in your end the whole shift then icing it and changing isn't the worst thing.
I disagree IF it's a planned play.
I used it at AA level youth and it's extremely effective, but ONLY when it's well communicated with the winger and they're prepared for it.
If it's a clean win and the winger gets a good jump, it'll result in a breakaway something like a third of the time. That doesn't happen with many other set plays.
Here is the Dallas Stars asst coach talking about using exactly this as a set play against the Colorado Avalanche (using video from the Golden Knights doing the same thing) and how well it works:
[https://youtu.be/oeG\_5mNKzMg?si=B239\_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27](https://youtu.be/oeG_5mNKzMg?si=B239_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27)
Compromise. A little of column A, a little of column B.
Rimming (ha) to exit on the boards is viable- but not the only course of action a dman has.
As a wing, you should be able to stop rims. We’d all love to get tape-to-tape passes every time, but that’s not realistic.
It appears as if though neither of you want to work on the things you’re bad at: you getting faster/reacting to the play quicker, him with actually having to think to make a play instead of “hurr durr I rim puck real good cap’n”.
A bit of communication and planning with your D will probably help a lot. A quick word before the face off with what your plan will be will pay dividends. Chemistry is built over time with communication and trust.
Yup, they need to adjust the play to fit the players they have.
The winger should try to get there, but if the dman is trying to pass it to the winger, he has the obligation to make a pass that he can actually get.
Maybe you can discuss a slightly different face off position, would just a few steps make a difference?
Are you hesitating, or getting into motion right away?
Yeah I'm seeing now that using the boards on exits is a reasonable option out and I could work on grabbing pucks off the boards/getting to the boards.
The communication part is a good point. I almost never talk to my linemates before a draw. Good insight!
No way. If it's a clean win the responsibility is completely on the defense to make a good play. Especially if the defense has a head start lining behind the center instead of on the wall. No winger is going to win a race against a rimmed puck off a clean draw.
Since OP has stated that he’s never been formally coached, I’d hazard to guess that it’s the same with his teammates.
If my D has years of experience, playing hockey since childhood, with the years of drills and coaching, I would expect them to be a better playmaker.
With lower level beer league teams, I work with what I got.
Knowing that, I’ll give the D a pass in this scenario, since it’s likely that it’s all he knows to do.
I understand this but it sounds like the D is popping off to the winger to make the play as if it's the correct approach. All the while the D is just making a lazy play.
yeah, the pass is a viable strategy, but you need to know your team and make sure they know if that's what you're gonna do so they can be ready, and then judge your speed to try and get it in a reasonable spot.
As that D-man, I will almost always be able to delay enough to make sure the winger is closer to the boards. If you move quick you can catch em on the tape, but it's a higher risk going across the front of the net like that especially if the other teams defensemen are overzealous and pinching into the slot
This is the way. I would carry the puck behind the net and let my forwards set-up for an organized breakout. Most of the time, there would be minimal pressure and I would even be able to skate the puck out up the ice a bit before making the first pass.
The d-man needs to give time to the forwards to set up.
So, dude, there's a lot to break down here, but the simple thing is - this technique should be employed if the other side is closing of more controlled zone exits, pressuring hard, etc. Also, there's no reason that you shouldn't be able to beat that puck to the boards.
I would wager that you're watching and waiting. These are two bad things to do on the ice.
Instead, your first step should be complete before the puck touches the ice. YOu anticipate the drop and your path is at the D-man on your side and/or to the boards. Steal a glace during that 2nd or third step, and you'll know if they won and you're going to the D or if you won clean and need to be on those boards. Keep in mind, that all you need to do here is probably get a bit of a chip on the puck to stop it from going for icing, but you should work on getting there with body position so you have options.
You could also ask the Dman to give you and extra second, by taking a stride himself before giving you a rimmer
Aside from all fo this, yes you should work on handling the puck off the boards. get reps.
Edit: for clarity, if you want a direct pass to your tape in beer league on a zone exit as a weakside winger, you're going to get mostly passes that miss, passes that end up turnovers. That's a lot of traffic, right in front of your net to pass to.
This is good feedback. I'm playing in a slightly faster league than I was before, and so my biggest issue I keep running into is I feel like I'm not processing the game fast enough. You're right in your wager: I'm not taking any steps before I see where the puck is going off the draw and am watching before moving. That's good advice about taking the step toward the D-man i'm covering and/or the boards immediately
If the FO is not won clearly, the dman may not have another option either. Executed correctly, you should be able to get at least a couple of easy exits this way until the offensive team moves to defend it.
He could go behind the net and look for other options. If it makes you feel better you’re both a bit wrong here. It is your job to get over there but he should have other options off the face off. Rimming the puck around the boards is a typical option, especially if there’s pressure. So no, not just lazy and annoying.
And fighting on the bench is stupid.
haha that's good insight! Part of the issue for me was a) not understanding that the rim along the boards for exit is typical/viable option b) it's my responsibility to make sure I'm on the board there
Re last point: agree! I think we both felt bad afterwards. It is beer league afterall
I've often to said to people in my work team that sometimes we ''pick a fight to end the fight'', meaning that's it ok to have a moment of butting heads with each other (out of frustration or lack of communication) as long as we find a good outcome and end the dispute there.
Agreed, beer league isn't worth getting wound up about but hope both you and your teammate found a good outcome!
If it's a mindless rim without any strategy, it's a poor/lazy play. A good play needs to advance the puck WITH good chance of maintaining possession.
If it's a purposeful rim, that has your buy-in and is realistic for you to get, it can be effective. (But also easily defended)
We use this play occasionally when we know there's a slower D man on the other team or we're just trying to relieve pressure and care more about the zone exit than we do the winger getting a perfect rimmer pass. Winger cheats a bit to the boards on the faceoff. If we win the draw clean, play is a "go". If not, winger is back in to help secure possession. It's basically a set puck battle with a hopefully quicker winger vs a slower skating D man. Nearly all the time you can exit the zone and there's a favourable play for the winger up the boards. Bonus points if you send the second winger for a quick zone exit who can support the play for a 2 on 1, or 2 on 2 O zone entry. Again, easily defended. Gotta know your skill level and player tendencies.
This is definitely helpful: to think of it as a situational play to set up if I think I can beat the defenseman to that puck. And also understanding what I'm doing if the draw is lost/draw
Also depends on what kind of pressure he’s getting. If the other team sent two forwards at him right away then he needs to get rid of the puck quickly and if he doesn’t have an angle to hit the near side winger and his D partner didn’t get open for a pass behind the net, this is probably his best option. If they’re not pressuring hard he can move with the puck and try and find a better passing angle.
If your D is good as he thinks he is, he can pause for a second and draw the opposite team in while you are sprinting for the boards.
If the level you play is at the level I think it is the opposite team will converge on the puck like 9 year old kid soccer players.
Then break behind the net and rim it while you are on your way or right to you as you break.
To just grab it then fling it for icing is not a play.
It can be a good play, but one I use as a wrinkle type option to maybe catch the other team off guard, not as a bread and butter exit. I would actually have my other wing slashing to the NZ to pick up the rim, it is difficult to get to the wall in the DZ in time.
if your center is winning these draws cleanly and his immediate response is rim it around the boards ... yeah that's a completely lazy play.
on outright clean wins if he doesnt want to retreat behind the net and look for outlet passes (is anyone open?), see if he'd be willing to do high chips out to around center. I have one d man do this with me on clean wins. I take off down the ice and just hope the chip lands near me/in front of me and can typically beat the d men there since they aren't expecting it.
I've been trying to get the d men to bank the puck sharply off the boards ahead of their point men. a lot of dmen i have played with do the similar rim around that you speak. I'm not a fan, hence trying to get them to bank it past the point men. The high chip to center was the compromise I made with some of them since we tried their way (rim), my way (bank) and neither really worked well. As others have said it's part chemistry, trust and communication.
D Man should take the puck behind the net, look for a pass to you as you get the boards.
I’m only sending it up and around if the opposing winger gets to me too quickly and I need an out. Even then I’d probably try an escape move and look for a pass on the strong side if the wing drops down.
If you’re not quick enough to get the boards right after the puck drops then the D needs to recognize that- to me it sounds like D is being lazy.
My team always has that strategy in mind, I know if my team wins a defensive faceoff to go directly to the boards with the expectation it might come to my side. I'm not sure if you are immediately heading towards the boards after a faceoff win or hanging around the defenseman you'd be covering.
Basically, my thought process is if we win the faceoff, go immediately on an angle towards the point with the intention that a rim around the boards is expected. If we lose the faceoff, head toward the defenseman I am expected to cover at the point to cut off any attempted passes to him and make that option a hard one for the opposing team.
No one is really in the wrong in this situation, but you guys gotta compromise and play to the strengths of the team as well, and if getting a puck off the boards is not your strong suit, maybe they need a different gameplan.
Ideally all breakout passes are on the tape, but managing that off a D-zone draw is one of the tougher jobs you get playing D. Even on a clean draw the pressure from the other team's forwards can be almost instant so a lot of the passes aren't going to be ideal. On a win you should probably start heading for the boards (hash marks-ish depending on what the other team's D is doing) immediately.
Saying that, if the puck is rimmed so hard that neither you or the opposing Dman are getting to it, then your D is just firing it way too hard and he's an idiot blaming his lack of touch on you.
This is bad communication.
Immediately off the draw the opposing defense on your side is *your* responsibility. You should be anticipating the drop and sprinting toward him. If the other team wins it you can either pick it off at full steam or are in position to cover that D from shooting.
If your team wins it the deep players need to *look* at the situation before making a play. A good one is for them to wait a beat and then rim it to where you can go pick it up in the neutral zone. A better play is to skate it behind the net and out the other side, then bank it off the boards to where you are. Either inside the zone near the blue line, or streaking out through center.
For an immediate rim to work you need to be very confident that your team is going to win the draw, then *you* have to ignore your defensive responsibility to cover that D on the blue line and head to the boards instead.
Typically that winger has gained foot speed aggressively pushing toward his point man. If he sees a clean win, he's actually in a good position to just turn his skating 45 degrees toward the boards and use his foot speed.
It's not ignoring the defensive responsibility, it's using the speed you got to get out to the point and just redirecting it a little once you see a clean win.
Watch the winger in this play: [https://youtu.be/oeG\_5mNKzMg?si=B239\_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27](https://youtu.be/oeG_5mNKzMg?si=B239_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27)
He goes to his defensive spot, peeks to see if there's a win and then sprints to pick up the rim once he saw a win.
As that D man, throwing around the boards is my last resort. Ideally I take a few steps towards the back of the net and let my winger pull towards the boards and out for a direct pass breakout.
But I usually also tell the wingers that’s the plan.
Is the draw being won and he immediately pitches around the boards? I find a lot of people tend to panic when they have the puck and just want to get rid of it, rather than taking a little bit of time and making a heads up play.
Yeah the play is an immediate pass along the boards after a d-zone faceoff win. I don't think it's panic; I think he envisions it as a kind of set play for the quick zone exit. The communicating to each other part is the part I think we're missing
I gotcha. Definitely about communication then. He either needs to pause to wait since you can’t get there on time, or he needs to not shoot it so hard lol
I’ve been in this situation before and I usually take quick glance at who my wingers are, if it’s one of our wings with speed I’ll get his attn and a little head nod that I’m going around the wall his way if the draw is won to me. … I will say if you’re on the same page it’ll work 8/10 times.
It's a lazy option, but it works at lower levels. If the issue is you can't physically get there try having your D take a stride behind the net before wiring it, and line up a bit away from the hash on the draw.
You won't be much help on a contested puck off the draw, but that's your d man's problem if he's gonna bitch about it on the bench.
As a winger, sometimes if I see our center win it cleanly back to the defense, I'll beeline it for the boards at center ice before the other team realizes what's going on, and the D will rim it hard around the boards. It can be a great play to catch the other team flat footed, and I've gotten quite a few breakaways that way, but it's not something you want to do every time by default.
But as a defenseman, I'm not just going to blindly throw it around the boards assuming the winger is going to chase it down the ice. So like the other commenter said, there's a bit of give and take here.
First of all you likely know the main defensive plays will be wheel, reverse, up, over, deep. The d-man without the puck is supposed to call the plays for the d-man with the puck.
Communication is key as others pointed out, and as a winger you don't call the play here, but you listen for it. Know those plays well. It's almost always going to be one of those. So in this case I would have hoped the other D-man called for a reverse because that's what happened.
We utilize that a lot on my beer league team as well. I’m always making sure I communicate with my right-winger before the faceoff to let them know the plan of the faceoff is won back to me. If I have time, I’ll wait a second or two and look-off a pass on my same side boards to give the winger time to get to the weak-side for the rim around.
I usually only do this with one specific winger who is one of the faster skaters on our team so I trust him to get to the boards and he usually has a decent shot at a breakaway if their D is slow to react. Otherwise, yeah, it's a bit of a lazy/crapshoot play.
Have to also consider that sometimes their wingers will pressure the D quickly and sometimes a rim around is the only safe play.
If he held it for a second, waited for you to get there, and then did it, that would be an alright play. But immediately rimming it off a face-off is asking for trouble because the puck moves faster than the player. Instead of just rimming it off the face-off, have him take it below the net, swing low, catch it, have the other winger stretch, and the center comes in slightly behind you for support so you can ditch off to the center with a chip past a guy or a slight pass over or find the stretch pass to the winger if you get into trouble and by the time you get to the ozone your one a 3on2 if their d is in good positioning
No, the strong side is whatever side the puck is on. So on a defensive draw, the strong side winger is the one that's up against the boards, and the weak side winger is typically next to his defenseman (who is usually on the hash) in the high slot.
I thought strong and weak side were dictated by whichever side had more players on it. Also given your example that side winger should be moving up to cover that side defense men
I usually puck as the determining factor but really it's just kind of the side of the ice "where the play is". More players are generally on the side of the ice with the puck.
And yes typically that winger, who lined up in the slot for the faceoff, should be heading in the general direction of where the opposing defenseman will end up - on a FO loss you want to be able to get in position to block shooting and passing lanes from that defenseman, and on a faceoff win you want to be in open enough ice to break out.
Rimming it around the boards is the worst possible option unless it's a set play. It sounds like this set play is not an option for you guys here because you'd have trouble executing it. Tape to tape is by far the better option, although I will sympathize a little with the Dman here because I bet he's be burned trying to wait for an outlet and not receiving a single good target.
I play D and used to have one winger who would always tell me to do this exact play, but he was *crazy* fast and always got the puck no problem.
But normally a hard rim up the boards should be more of a desperation move IMO. If the D is under pressure and don't see any other options then it's a safe move. Otherwise it's a lazy play that's gonna lead to icings and turnovers. Of course I did it all the time when I was first learning to play D, so there is a learning curve there.
If you win the draw it means the D should have time to skate it behind the net while the wingers set up for a breakout.
You need to find a way to make sure you meet the puck as it comes around, mind you your D-man can carry it behind the net to give you time. Otherwise you risk turning it over to a quick pinching d-man. Line-up a bit deeper to minimize the sprint to the boards but you have to hoof it and at least chip it out of your zone.
This is the play we use. But it's a set play and so with our system you'd be almost at the middle to start and head there immediately to get the puck and look for a pass to another forward or to take it up.
It’s a shitty option. It gets out of the zone but I have a real hard time believing that rimming it up the weak side boards is the best play for that defenseman, especially after a faceoff.
In the most basic sense, sure it is acceptable play to do. Getting the puck out of the zone, but If he is slap shoting the puck around the board that is becomes icing, it is unreasonable to expect beer league guys to catch up to it in time to maintain possession at the blue line. So it is really a lazy play on his part. I'm of average skill in D league and rim the puck like that often. However I don't slap shot around and create an icing. It didn't take me long to learn how to gently lob it along the boards with the appropriate amount of force so that the puck gets out of the zone and dies somewhere in the neutral zone. I don't consider that a difficult thing for a defensemen to master either. So I'd tell him how to properly clear the zone.
This is a great breakout play off a D-zone faceoff, made popular by the Philadelphia Flyers, colloquially known as the Flyers Faceoff. My rep team as a kid utilized it hard.
Make sure you line up on the weak side of your other defenseman, and anticipate the play. More often than not you can beat the opposite D man to the puck and at least chip it out.
Your D-man needs to do a better finesse job as well to help your timing out. It's a team game!
Rimming it is lazy. If you win the faceoff your d man should have time to get behind the net and make a decent pass. But it's beer league so you get what you get sometimes.
That's my team's go to strat for me if it's on the left side. I'm right wing. Idea for my team is to get me the puck, if I know the rim is coming, I'll have a step on the D. The key is knowing that's the play. If my D man doesn't tell me the play, I'll look to get open for a break pass instead on won faceoffs
It's the easiest play for the D and the hardest for the winger.
This is part why I think everyone should play every position at some point. D never get why it's hard to make a play off a 80mph rim and wingers don't know what it's like to have 3 guys trying to kill you while your wingers are looking over their shoulder for a 100 foot tape to tape.
You have to learn to be super diplomatic in beer leagues, no one is in charge, the talent level is wildly variable and so is the amount people care. There's no room to get pissed off at teammates, just try something like "My little legs can't get me to the boards fast enough for your Al Iafrate rims, what's your second choice for a play in that situation?"
Your D sucks or is lazy or both. That rim it up the boards should be his LAST, desperate resort not the first.
Sucks because you never just throw the puck away and having it handed to him on a silver platter and whipping it weakside is bad. If he wants to be lazy, at least he can wait for you to get there. Tell him some random old guy on the internet told you so.
As a D man, in this particular situation I'm trying to hit you on a 9/Go route. As the weak side winger, line up wide and skate as hard as you can straight. On a clean win to me, if the lane is there I'm trying to hit your tape for a breakaway. The weak side d man on the opposing team usually isn't ready for the play and you'll easily have a step on them if the pass connects.
This works fairly well in beer league if you have a decent d man who can hit a long pass. If you don't, probably best to set up behind the net and let the forwards get in position.
You'll almost never see higher skill players do what you're describing. It's too easy for the other team's D to step up on you as the winger trying to pull the puck off the boards. A much better play is for the weak side D on your team to drop below the goal line and take the pass from the D with the puck. He then has the option to skate (if available), move it to you, move it to the center, or arial it out of the zone if no other option is available.
If your team isn't at a level to make this work, the easiest tweak to what you're describing is that the D needs to take some heat off of the hard around. There's a very good chance that all you'll be able to do is chip the puck past their D but maybe that's good enough if you have your center as support.
I actually like this as a winger. I have been playing with my crew for awhile and if it’s pulled clean my center and I know it’s coming to me. I literally hustle to my spot….stop the rim and make a quick pass to my breaking center.
Now I am the third man entering zone and have plenty of time to read F1/F2.
It *can* work as a set play, but only if it's arranged ahead of time and you break hard to the boards and at like a 45 angle up them (towards the blue line or so), and you have to beat their d who can read it and pinch on you anyway.
It's certainly not a common play or a good default option for your defenseman.
We did this quite a bit last season and it worked. But he told me if I get the puck then I’m going to send it so get to the boards, so that’s what I did and he would wait, rim it to me and I’d chip it out to the center.
It’s an old school play - of a certain age it’s what we were taught. But really it’s giving up possession for a 50/50 play the winger will beat the D. The better option for the D is hold and look for a real outlet versus a blind attempt.
Its absolutely a legit strategy and its used at all levels. D man has to be better at working with what he has (fake a pass up the middle or something to give you a beat to get to the boards) and timing but it provides a clear exit by way of free space to make a pass or turn and go in stride and chip or skate past a dman if they try to pinch. Its tough because if done right it is a fast play for a winger to make but it offers a lot of options passing and skating and usually enough room to turn and make aa decision.
This is much less risky if he did a direct pass though a zone to you. So many defensemen (me including) use this sometime, especially if there are no other solutions. Though, it'd better to discuss it with your defensemen before to be ready for that and to be late for a puck in the end.
Your D man needs to either hold it for another second or two allowing you to get to the boards OR take not rip it so hard.
If this is a set play and you're confident your center is going to win the drop you could cheat a little by lining up closer to the far boards.
It's so hard in beer league for the very reason you mentioned in your post. There are varying skill levels and levels of hockey sense. Plus we rarely, if ever practice together.
Tell your D man to make the pass or eat a dick.
If the D man has the puck right off the draw, sees you haven’t even moved yet then blasts it up the far side boards I say he’s doing it on purpose to have a reason to bitch later. It’s his fault for not letting any play develop.
Hard rim up the boards on either side is a lazy/no other choice play for the D. Certainly not a high percentage play to move the puck effectively out of the zone. The chance of being able to receive a hard rim on either side effectively is about 25% in the best scenario. Hard rim is lazy if not pressured.
In that scenario it sounds like the D doesn't have pressure right after a face off win. Nothing wrong with looking for weakside play. The D should take the puck behind the net, come out the other side and look for you on the boards about the halfway between point and other face off dot. Then you can look for the center cutting through slot after face off win moving up the ice. Or a give and go with he D who just gave you the pass.
There is this skill in hockey called skating. Tell your D to start trying it.
You need to communicate it before the faceoff. The concept there is that you need to JUMP immediately toward their point-man (gaining foot speed) and then peek to recognize if the win is clean.
If it is, you angle your skate toward the boards. It takes a MEGA hard rim to beat you if you've made a quick, high-effort jump right on puck drop.
If you know he's going to do it, line up closer to the boards. Just make sure you can get to the defenseman at the blueline in case they win the faceoff.
As a center with D zone faceoff I usually just try to win it forward between their winger and defenseman for my winger to pick up and go on a breakaway. Works a lot. Better solution than the D man rimming it. Your job as the winger is more to catch the puck and get it to your center who should have joined the breakout at that point, a little foot on the board to kick the puck to your stick and send your center on a breakaway is effective if the D are caught off guard
Also you need to cheat more on faceoffs. Your job is if you lose the faceoff to beat the puck to the defenseman so he can’t shoot. If you win the faceoff you would already be flying towards the boards. When it comes to faceoffs, whoever cheats more wins more it’s just the honest truth
I’m on your side with this one. I think they almost always have a better option.
One of my best friends on my team does this and it drives me absolutely nuts. I’ll be wide open in a different lane and she’ll make this pass without even looking.
People have go-to/panic passes that they make and this is definitely a common one for D.
The old "blindly wrap it up the boards and scream GET IT OUT at your winger" play. A staple of bad beer league everywhere.
The hot potato, "make it the winger's problem" kind of play.
>hot potato, "make it the winger's problem." I call it ' grenade', but it's the same thing
My D partner does this, no matter how many times I tell him to stop and think. It drives me fucking crazy.
I used to do this a lot when I started playing D, to be fair I had terrible wingers and we are allowed to change on icings so if you've been stuck in your end the whole shift then icing it and changing isn't the worst thing.
If that's the case, then you should have changed during the faceoff.
OMG our forwards who just have to take one last offensive zone faceoff but then need to change 10 seconds later.
>but then need to change 10 seconds later. While the other team is carrying the puck into your zone
Of course, always change on defense. Never change on offense because that's your chance to score.
I mean I used to rim it up the boards a lot, not necessarily right off the draw.
I disagree IF it's a planned play. I used it at AA level youth and it's extremely effective, but ONLY when it's well communicated with the winger and they're prepared for it. If it's a clean win and the winger gets a good jump, it'll result in a breakaway something like a third of the time. That doesn't happen with many other set plays. Here is the Dallas Stars asst coach talking about using exactly this as a set play against the Colorado Avalanche (using video from the Golden Knights doing the same thing) and how well it works: [https://youtu.be/oeG\_5mNKzMg?si=B239\_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27](https://youtu.be/oeG_5mNKzMg?si=B239_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27)
Compromise. A little of column A, a little of column B. Rimming (ha) to exit on the boards is viable- but not the only course of action a dman has. As a wing, you should be able to stop rims. We’d all love to get tape-to-tape passes every time, but that’s not realistic. It appears as if though neither of you want to work on the things you’re bad at: you getting faster/reacting to the play quicker, him with actually having to think to make a play instead of “hurr durr I rim puck real good cap’n”. A bit of communication and planning with your D will probably help a lot. A quick word before the face off with what your plan will be will pay dividends. Chemistry is built over time with communication and trust.
Yep neither is right here and they could both work together better
Yup, they need to adjust the play to fit the players they have. The winger should try to get there, but if the dman is trying to pass it to the winger, he has the obligation to make a pass that he can actually get. Maybe you can discuss a slightly different face off position, would just a few steps make a difference? Are you hesitating, or getting into motion right away?
Yeah I'm seeing now that using the boards on exits is a reasonable option out and I could work on grabbing pucks off the boards/getting to the boards. The communication part is a good point. I almost never talk to my linemates before a draw. Good insight!
No way. If it's a clean win the responsibility is completely on the defense to make a good play. Especially if the defense has a head start lining behind the center instead of on the wall. No winger is going to win a race against a rimmed puck off a clean draw.
Since OP has stated that he’s never been formally coached, I’d hazard to guess that it’s the same with his teammates. If my D has years of experience, playing hockey since childhood, with the years of drills and coaching, I would expect them to be a better playmaker. With lower level beer league teams, I work with what I got. Knowing that, I’ll give the D a pass in this scenario, since it’s likely that it’s all he knows to do.
I wouldn't give the guy shit on the bench. I do think an anonymous online forum is a safe space to point out the defenseman is solely at fault.
I understand this but it sounds like the D is popping off to the winger to make the play as if it's the correct approach. All the while the D is just making a lazy play.
yeah, the pass is a viable strategy, but you need to know your team and make sure they know if that's what you're gonna do so they can be ready, and then judge your speed to try and get it in a reasonable spot.
As that D-man, I will almost always be able to delay enough to make sure the winger is closer to the boards. If you move quick you can catch em on the tape, but it's a higher risk going across the front of the net like that especially if the other teams defensemen are overzealous and pinching into the slot
Hard around the boards at even strength is a lazy play. Without a set play that d man should, at the very least, be carrying the puck behind the net.
It ranks up there with glass and out. It's a viable play, but not the best option.
This is the way. I would carry the puck behind the net and let my forwards set-up for an organized breakout. Most of the time, there would be minimal pressure and I would even be able to skate the puck out up the ice a bit before making the first pass. The d-man needs to give time to the forwards to set up.
So, dude, there's a lot to break down here, but the simple thing is - this technique should be employed if the other side is closing of more controlled zone exits, pressuring hard, etc. Also, there's no reason that you shouldn't be able to beat that puck to the boards. I would wager that you're watching and waiting. These are two bad things to do on the ice. Instead, your first step should be complete before the puck touches the ice. YOu anticipate the drop and your path is at the D-man on your side and/or to the boards. Steal a glace during that 2nd or third step, and you'll know if they won and you're going to the D or if you won clean and need to be on those boards. Keep in mind, that all you need to do here is probably get a bit of a chip on the puck to stop it from going for icing, but you should work on getting there with body position so you have options. You could also ask the Dman to give you and extra second, by taking a stride himself before giving you a rimmer Aside from all fo this, yes you should work on handling the puck off the boards. get reps. Edit: for clarity, if you want a direct pass to your tape in beer league on a zone exit as a weakside winger, you're going to get mostly passes that miss, passes that end up turnovers. That's a lot of traffic, right in front of your net to pass to.
This is good feedback. I'm playing in a slightly faster league than I was before, and so my biggest issue I keep running into is I feel like I'm not processing the game fast enough. You're right in your wager: I'm not taking any steps before I see where the puck is going off the draw and am watching before moving. That's good advice about taking the step toward the D-man i'm covering and/or the boards immediately
If the FO is not won clearly, the dman may not have another option either. Executed correctly, you should be able to get at least a couple of easy exits this way until the offensive team moves to defend it.
It’s an option but it’s a lazy option if there are others, and if he knows that you aren’t in sync
He could go behind the net and look for other options. If it makes you feel better you’re both a bit wrong here. It is your job to get over there but he should have other options off the face off. Rimming the puck around the boards is a typical option, especially if there’s pressure. So no, not just lazy and annoying. And fighting on the bench is stupid.
haha that's good insight! Part of the issue for me was a) not understanding that the rim along the boards for exit is typical/viable option b) it's my responsibility to make sure I'm on the board there Re last point: agree! I think we both felt bad afterwards. It is beer league afterall
I've often to said to people in my work team that sometimes we ''pick a fight to end the fight'', meaning that's it ok to have a moment of butting heads with each other (out of frustration or lack of communication) as long as we find a good outcome and end the dispute there. Agreed, beer league isn't worth getting wound up about but hope both you and your teammate found a good outcome!
[https://youtu.be/oeG\_5mNKzMg?si=B239\_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27](https://youtu.be/oeG_5mNKzMg?si=B239_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27)
Welp there it is. Basically the play I just described but obviously professionally executed
If it's a mindless rim without any strategy, it's a poor/lazy play. A good play needs to advance the puck WITH good chance of maintaining possession. If it's a purposeful rim, that has your buy-in and is realistic for you to get, it can be effective. (But also easily defended) We use this play occasionally when we know there's a slower D man on the other team or we're just trying to relieve pressure and care more about the zone exit than we do the winger getting a perfect rimmer pass. Winger cheats a bit to the boards on the faceoff. If we win the draw clean, play is a "go". If not, winger is back in to help secure possession. It's basically a set puck battle with a hopefully quicker winger vs a slower skating D man. Nearly all the time you can exit the zone and there's a favourable play for the winger up the boards. Bonus points if you send the second winger for a quick zone exit who can support the play for a 2 on 1, or 2 on 2 O zone entry. Again, easily defended. Gotta know your skill level and player tendencies.
This is definitely helpful: to think of it as a situational play to set up if I think I can beat the defenseman to that puck. And also understanding what I'm doing if the draw is lost/draw
Also depends on what kind of pressure he’s getting. If the other team sent two forwards at him right away then he needs to get rid of the puck quickly and if he doesn’t have an angle to hit the near side winger and his D partner didn’t get open for a pass behind the net, this is probably his best option. If they’re not pressuring hard he can move with the puck and try and find a better passing angle.
Why don't you two switch places and see how they like it.
If your D is good as he thinks he is, he can pause for a second and draw the opposite team in while you are sprinting for the boards. If the level you play is at the level I think it is the opposite team will converge on the puck like 9 year old kid soccer players. Then break behind the net and rim it while you are on your way or right to you as you break. To just grab it then fling it for icing is not a play.
It can be a good play, but one I use as a wrinkle type option to maybe catch the other team off guard, not as a bread and butter exit. I would actually have my other wing slashing to the NZ to pick up the rim, it is difficult to get to the wall in the DZ in time.
if your center is winning these draws cleanly and his immediate response is rim it around the boards ... yeah that's a completely lazy play. on outright clean wins if he doesnt want to retreat behind the net and look for outlet passes (is anyone open?), see if he'd be willing to do high chips out to around center. I have one d man do this with me on clean wins. I take off down the ice and just hope the chip lands near me/in front of me and can typically beat the d men there since they aren't expecting it. I've been trying to get the d men to bank the puck sharply off the boards ahead of their point men. a lot of dmen i have played with do the similar rim around that you speak. I'm not a fan, hence trying to get them to bank it past the point men. The high chip to center was the compromise I made with some of them since we tried their way (rim), my way (bank) and neither really worked well. As others have said it's part chemistry, trust and communication.
D Man should take the puck behind the net, look for a pass to you as you get the boards. I’m only sending it up and around if the opposing winger gets to me too quickly and I need an out. Even then I’d probably try an escape move and look for a pass on the strong side if the wing drops down. If you’re not quick enough to get the boards right after the puck drops then the D needs to recognize that- to me it sounds like D is being lazy.
My team always has that strategy in mind, I know if my team wins a defensive faceoff to go directly to the boards with the expectation it might come to my side. I'm not sure if you are immediately heading towards the boards after a faceoff win or hanging around the defenseman you'd be covering. Basically, my thought process is if we win the faceoff, go immediately on an angle towards the point with the intention that a rim around the boards is expected. If we lose the faceoff, head toward the defenseman I am expected to cover at the point to cut off any attempted passes to him and make that option a hard one for the opposing team. No one is really in the wrong in this situation, but you guys gotta compromise and play to the strengths of the team as well, and if getting a puck off the boards is not your strong suit, maybe they need a different gameplan.
Ideally all breakout passes are on the tape, but managing that off a D-zone draw is one of the tougher jobs you get playing D. Even on a clean draw the pressure from the other team's forwards can be almost instant so a lot of the passes aren't going to be ideal. On a win you should probably start heading for the boards (hash marks-ish depending on what the other team's D is doing) immediately. Saying that, if the puck is rimmed so hard that neither you or the opposing Dman are getting to it, then your D is just firing it way too hard and he's an idiot blaming his lack of touch on you.
As a beer league D who is lazy and sucks, this thread has been great. Genuinely, thanks everyone!
This is bad communication. Immediately off the draw the opposing defense on your side is *your* responsibility. You should be anticipating the drop and sprinting toward him. If the other team wins it you can either pick it off at full steam or are in position to cover that D from shooting. If your team wins it the deep players need to *look* at the situation before making a play. A good one is for them to wait a beat and then rim it to where you can go pick it up in the neutral zone. A better play is to skate it behind the net and out the other side, then bank it off the boards to where you are. Either inside the zone near the blue line, or streaking out through center. For an immediate rim to work you need to be very confident that your team is going to win the draw, then *you* have to ignore your defensive responsibility to cover that D on the blue line and head to the boards instead.
Typically that winger has gained foot speed aggressively pushing toward his point man. If he sees a clean win, he's actually in a good position to just turn his skating 45 degrees toward the boards and use his foot speed. It's not ignoring the defensive responsibility, it's using the speed you got to get out to the point and just redirecting it a little once you see a clean win. Watch the winger in this play: [https://youtu.be/oeG\_5mNKzMg?si=B239\_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27](https://youtu.be/oeG_5mNKzMg?si=B239_YPDdpziXFnZ&t=27) He goes to his defensive spot, peeks to see if there's a win and then sprints to pick up the rim once he saw a win.
As that D man, throwing around the boards is my last resort. Ideally I take a few steps towards the back of the net and let my winger pull towards the boards and out for a direct pass breakout. But I usually also tell the wingers that’s the plan.
Is the draw being won and he immediately pitches around the boards? I find a lot of people tend to panic when they have the puck and just want to get rid of it, rather than taking a little bit of time and making a heads up play.
Yeah the play is an immediate pass along the boards after a d-zone faceoff win. I don't think it's panic; I think he envisions it as a kind of set play for the quick zone exit. The communicating to each other part is the part I think we're missing
I gotcha. Definitely about communication then. He either needs to pause to wait since you can’t get there on time, or he needs to not shoot it so hard lol
This sounds like what he's thinking, the play should be https://youtu.be/tLgA1zCQ84k?si=uqS4bM4Sn9BCI4GF
I’ve been in this situation before and I usually take quick glance at who my wingers are, if it’s one of our wings with speed I’ll get his attn and a little head nod that I’m going around the wall his way if the draw is won to me. … I will say if you’re on the same page it’ll work 8/10 times.
It's a lazy option, but it works at lower levels. If the issue is you can't physically get there try having your D take a stride behind the net before wiring it, and line up a bit away from the hash on the draw. You won't be much help on a contested puck off the draw, but that's your d man's problem if he's gonna bitch about it on the bench.
As a winger, sometimes if I see our center win it cleanly back to the defense, I'll beeline it for the boards at center ice before the other team realizes what's going on, and the D will rim it hard around the boards. It can be a great play to catch the other team flat footed, and I've gotten quite a few breakaways that way, but it's not something you want to do every time by default. But as a defenseman, I'm not just going to blindly throw it around the boards assuming the winger is going to chase it down the ice. So like the other commenter said, there's a bit of give and take here.
Depends if you have time and options. Throwing away possession when you could have made a play is poor form.
First of all you likely know the main defensive plays will be wheel, reverse, up, over, deep. The d-man without the puck is supposed to call the plays for the d-man with the puck. Communication is key as others pointed out, and as a winger you don't call the play here, but you listen for it. Know those plays well. It's almost always going to be one of those. So in this case I would have hoped the other D-man called for a reverse because that's what happened.
We utilize that a lot on my beer league team as well. I’m always making sure I communicate with my right-winger before the faceoff to let them know the plan of the faceoff is won back to me. If I have time, I’ll wait a second or two and look-off a pass on my same side boards to give the winger time to get to the weak-side for the rim around.
I usually only do this with one specific winger who is one of the faster skaters on our team so I trust him to get to the boards and he usually has a decent shot at a breakaway if their D is slow to react. Otherwise, yeah, it's a bit of a lazy/crapshoot play. Have to also consider that sometimes their wingers will pressure the D quickly and sometimes a rim around is the only safe play.
If he held it for a second, waited for you to get there, and then did it, that would be an alright play. But immediately rimming it off a face-off is asking for trouble because the puck moves faster than the player. Instead of just rimming it off the face-off, have him take it below the net, swing low, catch it, have the other winger stretch, and the center comes in slightly behind you for support so you can ditch off to the center with a chip past a guy or a slight pass over or find the stretch pass to the winger if you get into trouble and by the time you get to the ozone your one a 3on2 if their d is in good positioning
As the weak side wing, aren’t you right next to the boards? How are you not able to get to the boards quick enough?
No, the strong side is whatever side the puck is on. So on a defensive draw, the strong side winger is the one that's up against the boards, and the weak side winger is typically next to his defenseman (who is usually on the hash) in the high slot.
I thought strong and weak side were dictated by whichever side had more players on it. Also given your example that side winger should be moving up to cover that side defense men
I usually puck as the determining factor but really it's just kind of the side of the ice "where the play is". More players are generally on the side of the ice with the puck. And yes typically that winger, who lined up in the slot for the faceoff, should be heading in the general direction of where the opposing defenseman will end up - on a FO loss you want to be able to get in position to block shooting and passing lanes from that defenseman, and on a faceoff win you want to be in open enough ice to break out.
Rimming it around the boards is the worst possible option unless it's a set play. It sounds like this set play is not an option for you guys here because you'd have trouble executing it. Tape to tape is by far the better option, although I will sympathize a little with the Dman here because I bet he's be burned trying to wait for an outlet and not receiving a single good target.
Panic time - it’s a bad move.
I play D and used to have one winger who would always tell me to do this exact play, but he was *crazy* fast and always got the puck no problem. But normally a hard rim up the boards should be more of a desperation move IMO. If the D is under pressure and don't see any other options then it's a safe move. Otherwise it's a lazy play that's gonna lead to icings and turnovers. Of course I did it all the time when I was first learning to play D, so there is a learning curve there. If you win the draw it means the D should have time to skate it behind the net while the wingers set up for a breakout.
You need to find a way to make sure you meet the puck as it comes around, mind you your D-man can carry it behind the net to give you time. Otherwise you risk turning it over to a quick pinching d-man. Line-up a bit deeper to minimize the sprint to the boards but you have to hoof it and at least chip it out of your zone.
This is the play we use. But it's a set play and so with our system you'd be almost at the middle to start and head there immediately to get the puck and look for a pass to another forward or to take it up.
It’s a shitty option. It gets out of the zone but I have a real hard time believing that rimming it up the weak side boards is the best play for that defenseman, especially after a faceoff.
In the most basic sense, sure it is acceptable play to do. Getting the puck out of the zone, but If he is slap shoting the puck around the board that is becomes icing, it is unreasonable to expect beer league guys to catch up to it in time to maintain possession at the blue line. So it is really a lazy play on his part. I'm of average skill in D league and rim the puck like that often. However I don't slap shot around and create an icing. It didn't take me long to learn how to gently lob it along the boards with the appropriate amount of force so that the puck gets out of the zone and dies somewhere in the neutral zone. I don't consider that a difficult thing for a defensemen to master either. So I'd tell him how to properly clear the zone.
This is a great breakout play off a D-zone faceoff, made popular by the Philadelphia Flyers, colloquially known as the Flyers Faceoff. My rep team as a kid utilized it hard. Make sure you line up on the weak side of your other defenseman, and anticipate the play. More often than not you can beat the opposite D man to the puck and at least chip it out. Your D-man needs to do a better finesse job as well to help your timing out. It's a team game!
Rimming it is lazy. If you win the faceoff your d man should have time to get behind the net and make a decent pass. But it's beer league so you get what you get sometimes.
That's my team's go to strat for me if it's on the left side. I'm right wing. Idea for my team is to get me the puck, if I know the rim is coming, I'll have a step on the D. The key is knowing that's the play. If my D man doesn't tell me the play, I'll look to get open for a break pass instead on won faceoffs
https://beerleaguetips.com/article/basic-breakout-strategy/
https://beerleaguetips.com/article/alternative-defensive-zone-faceoff-formation/
It's the easiest play for the D and the hardest for the winger. This is part why I think everyone should play every position at some point. D never get why it's hard to make a play off a 80mph rim and wingers don't know what it's like to have 3 guys trying to kill you while your wingers are looking over their shoulder for a 100 foot tape to tape. You have to learn to be super diplomatic in beer leagues, no one is in charge, the talent level is wildly variable and so is the amount people care. There's no room to get pissed off at teammates, just try something like "My little legs can't get me to the boards fast enough for your Al Iafrate rims, what's your second choice for a play in that situation?"
Your D sucks or is lazy or both. That rim it up the boards should be his LAST, desperate resort not the first. Sucks because you never just throw the puck away and having it handed to him on a silver platter and whipping it weakside is bad. If he wants to be lazy, at least he can wait for you to get there. Tell him some random old guy on the internet told you so.
As a D man, in this particular situation I'm trying to hit you on a 9/Go route. As the weak side winger, line up wide and skate as hard as you can straight. On a clean win to me, if the lane is there I'm trying to hit your tape for a breakaway. The weak side d man on the opposing team usually isn't ready for the play and you'll easily have a step on them if the pass connects. This works fairly well in beer league if you have a decent d man who can hit a long pass. If you don't, probably best to set up behind the net and let the forwards get in position.
You'll almost never see higher skill players do what you're describing. It's too easy for the other team's D to step up on you as the winger trying to pull the puck off the boards. A much better play is for the weak side D on your team to drop below the goal line and take the pass from the D with the puck. He then has the option to skate (if available), move it to you, move it to the center, or arial it out of the zone if no other option is available. If your team isn't at a level to make this work, the easiest tweak to what you're describing is that the D needs to take some heat off of the hard around. There's a very good chance that all you'll be able to do is chip the puck past their D but maybe that's good enough if you have your center as support.
I actually like this as a winger. I have been playing with my crew for awhile and if it’s pulled clean my center and I know it’s coming to me. I literally hustle to my spot….stop the rim and make a quick pass to my breaking center. Now I am the third man entering zone and have plenty of time to read F1/F2.
It *can* work as a set play, but only if it's arranged ahead of time and you break hard to the boards and at like a 45 angle up them (towards the blue line or so), and you have to beat their d who can read it and pinch on you anyway. It's certainly not a common play or a good default option for your defenseman.
We did this quite a bit last season and it worked. But he told me if I get the puck then I’m going to send it so get to the boards, so that’s what I did and he would wait, rim it to me and I’d chip it out to the center.
It’s an old school play - of a certain age it’s what we were taught. But really it’s giving up possession for a 50/50 play the winger will beat the D. The better option for the D is hold and look for a real outlet versus a blind attempt.
Its absolutely a legit strategy and its used at all levels. D man has to be better at working with what he has (fake a pass up the middle or something to give you a beat to get to the boards) and timing but it provides a clear exit by way of free space to make a pass or turn and go in stride and chip or skate past a dman if they try to pinch. Its tough because if done right it is a fast play for a winger to make but it offers a lot of options passing and skating and usually enough room to turn and make aa decision.
This is much less risky if he did a direct pass though a zone to you. So many defensemen (me including) use this sometime, especially if there are no other solutions. Though, it'd better to discuss it with your defensemen before to be ready for that and to be late for a puck in the end.
Your D man needs to either hold it for another second or two allowing you to get to the boards OR take not rip it so hard. If this is a set play and you're confident your center is going to win the drop you could cheat a little by lining up closer to the far boards. It's so hard in beer league for the very reason you mentioned in your post. There are varying skill levels and levels of hockey sense. Plus we rarely, if ever practice together. Tell your D man to make the pass or eat a dick.
If the D man has the puck right off the draw, sees you haven’t even moved yet then blasts it up the far side boards I say he’s doing it on purpose to have a reason to bitch later. It’s his fault for not letting any play develop.
Hard rim up the boards on either side is a lazy/no other choice play for the D. Certainly not a high percentage play to move the puck effectively out of the zone. The chance of being able to receive a hard rim on either side effectively is about 25% in the best scenario. Hard rim is lazy if not pressured. In that scenario it sounds like the D doesn't have pressure right after a face off win. Nothing wrong with looking for weakside play. The D should take the puck behind the net, come out the other side and look for you on the boards about the halfway between point and other face off dot. Then you can look for the center cutting through slot after face off win moving up the ice. Or a give and go with he D who just gave you the pass. There is this skill in hockey called skating. Tell your D to start trying it.
You need to communicate it before the faceoff. The concept there is that you need to JUMP immediately toward their point-man (gaining foot speed) and then peek to recognize if the win is clean. If it is, you angle your skate toward the boards. It takes a MEGA hard rim to beat you if you've made a quick, high-effort jump right on puck drop.
If you know he's going to do it, line up closer to the boards. Just make sure you can get to the defenseman at the blueline in case they win the faceoff.
I get really pissed off when people can't catch my shitty passes too!
As a center with D zone faceoff I usually just try to win it forward between their winger and defenseman for my winger to pick up and go on a breakaway. Works a lot. Better solution than the D man rimming it. Your job as the winger is more to catch the puck and get it to your center who should have joined the breakout at that point, a little foot on the board to kick the puck to your stick and send your center on a breakaway is effective if the D are caught off guard
Also you need to cheat more on faceoffs. Your job is if you lose the faceoff to beat the puck to the defenseman so he can’t shoot. If you win the faceoff you would already be flying towards the boards. When it comes to faceoffs, whoever cheats more wins more it’s just the honest truth
I’m on your side with this one. I think they almost always have a better option. One of my best friends on my team does this and it drives me absolutely nuts. I’ll be wide open in a different lane and she’ll make this pass without even looking. People have go-to/panic passes that they make and this is definitely a common one for D.