Hockey is a late specialization sport. Early specialization has been shown to lead to overuse injuries, burnout, and shorter professional careers. This is why many experts in development preach “players not positions.”
There are a ton of benefits to waiting to specialize in ice hockey. But once established as a hockey player, should youth players even specialize fully in one position?
Position Changes
Notable examples of players who changed positions from forward to defense:
Jake Gardiner = His junior year of high school
Rasmus Dahlin = The year prior to his draft
Andrei Markov = Drafted as center. Switched to D year after being drafted
Brent Burns = Early in NHL career
Dustin Byfuglien = Middle of NHL career
Sergei Federov = Late in NHL career
There are countless examples where players moved between RW, LW, and C. Some do this multiple times during a season. Boone Jenner is an example where he played 5-6 years in the NHL as a winger before moving to the center position. Tage Thompson moved to center from wing and then broke out as an NHL star.
Practice Positions with Scotty Bowman
All-time coaching legend and Hockey Hall-of-Fame NHL coach Scotty Bowman would have all of his players play each position at practice. He holds the coaching record for most Stanley Cups and more than once switched players between forward and defense.
“There is nothing better than a forward learning to player without the puck a little bit and there is nothing than a defensemen learning to play with the puck.”
“If you maneuver players around and don’t pigeon hole them into a certain position at a young age, they’re going be able to find their niche a lot easier and it’s going to be pretty seamless.” - Scotty Bowman
There is so much to learn by playing other positions. I tried goalie and I can tell you for certain that I am a much better scorer because of it.
This isn’t just older and old-time coaches. Hockey IQ Podcast guest and current Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St Louis does the same. In his practices, forwards & defensemen are often mixed together, every player plays both offensive & defensive reps.
Pinch Hitting
Versatility is always an asset and makes a player extremely valuable on a team’s roster.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen examples even at the NHL level where forwards like Calle Jarnkrok and Alex Kerfoot have played defense as situations dictated (E.g. defensemen getting hurt or in the penalty box).
Newsletter favorite Seamus Casey, a defenseman by trade, ended up playing offense for a game at the University of Michigan and absolutely crushed it. His stat line against the US National Team Development Program:
2 goals
1 assist
+2
won 9/14 faceoffs
Penalty drawn
Related Reading: Michigan HC Brandon Naurato is running a modern day powerhouse program.
Practical Ideas
Practice
Practice can be divided into two colors and everyone plays with everyone! Players should also mix in other positions. The offense should be playing defense and defense should be playing offense.
Want a player to understand why the rim is a lazy play? Have them try playing winger while a defender pinches down the wall. I’ve done this many times with great success.
Game
If you have players playing on multiple teams, position-switching is a great idea.
For high-school players, they could play Varsity at one position and JV at another position.
For off-season teams, players play a different position compared to their full-season team.
Career
Other sports often have players evolve positions as they age.
In soccer/football, it is very common to have a player start their career as an attacking midfielder and end up as a defensive midfielder toward the end of their career.
Red Kelly did something similar during his hockey career. Kelly won four Stanley Cups as a defenseman and four as a forward.
Defenseman with the Detroit Red Wings from 1947-1960. Kelly was a six-time NHL All-Star and won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in 1954.
Later in his career, he played center with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1960-1967. He won the Lady Byng Trophy four times and was a Hart Trophy (MVP) finalist twice.
There are so many benefits to developing ‘players not positions.’
Further Reading