Dangle at The Point Like Cale Makar

Steal defensemen Cale Makar's point play

It’s hard to pinpoint just one trait that makes Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Cale Makar such a special player. A plethora of skills ooze out of his game and make him the best defender in the NHL, including:

• Movement/power

• Manipulation/deception

• Shot/pass fakes

• Dynamic edgework/agility

While Makar has fantastic genetics and physical tools that very few people in the world possess, we can all learn from his process and drop them into our own games.

Makar’s Process

First things first, we’ve established that point shots suck. Makar knows this and has found a process that works for him to get into more dangerous areas and create havoc for opponents. Next, he utilizes the three parts of deception to become an unpredictable hockey player.

Step 1 - Catch

• Catch in motion through pass receptions

• Immediately place the puck into a duel-threat position

Step 2 - Committing the opponent

• Get the opponent to commit to a shot/pass/movement

• Turn the defender’s feet and move them out of the way

• Fake shot/pass

Step 3 - Change of direction and acceleration

• Accelerate in the opposite direction

• Double fakes if needed

Clip #1

Makar steps towards the puck to catch it within motion. He catches the puck into a duel-threat hip pocket puck position, fakes an outside pass, and skates inside into the house/middle of the ice.

Clip #2

Here, Makar has already moved off the blueline and is in motion when he catches the pass. Again we see duel-threat puck positioning to threaten the defense. He fakes a shot before patiently skating opposite the defender and easily skating inside into the house/middle of the ice.

Clip #3

Makar ideally wants to be moving, but sometimes being flat-footed/still happens. Even from this less-than-ideal position.. Makar is able to fake inside, tap the puck to open space, move to go past the overaggressive opponent, and able to attack the house/middle of the ice.

Clip #4

Makar grabs the puck, walks across the blueline while holding the puck in his hip pocket, and shows a shot. With a little pump as if he is going to shoot, Makar taps the puck into open space opposite of the defender’s momentum. Welp, you can see the defender felt desperate and helplessly found himself on his butt.

Clip #5

Here, Makar shows a catch in motion going away from where the pass came from, immediately catches into his duel threat hip pocket puck positioning, fakes one direction, fakes the other direction for the double fake, walks around the opponent, and is able to skate inside for a high-quality shot.

Clip #6

Lastly, a catch in motion going toward where the pass came from, immediately catches into his duel threat hip pocket puck positioning, fakes a shot, changes direction to go the opposite way of the recovering defender, and is able to skate inside for a high-quality shot that resulted in a goal.

Summary

First - Catch in motion

Second - Committing the opponent

Third - Change of direction and acceleration

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Further Reading

• Getting players to commit their skates allows players to play off their heels and create acres of space

• There are 3 parts of deception and a process to be an unpredictable hockey player

• The details that go into successful point play

• Getting off the blueline and shorting the zone for more offense and better defense

• Breaking down as why “Point Shots Suck”

• Seamus Casey first game

• Scouting Flyers’ defense prospect Emil Andrae

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