Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1517090
M H J O N L I N E . C O M | M A R C H 2 0 2 4 18 by Shane Frederick The Modern Defenseman Tips In the past, he said, so-called offen- sive defensemen "typically have not always been the best defenders, but now I think you need to be able to do both. So you have offensive defensem- an who are able to chip in at the offen- sive blue line … but who also take pride in the defensive end, which means there's the same edge and same level of compete." And that means skating skills are critical for defensemen. "Having speed, being able to skate, being agile and being able to get up and down the rink are a big piece," Martin said. TWENTY YEARS AGO, PAUL MARTIN WAS AN NHL ROOKIE, PLAYING FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS after a stellar three-year career at the University of Minnesota in which he helped the Gophers win two national championships. Retired from profes- sional hockey since 2018, Martin has been back at his alma mater the last four seasons, helping develop players as a member of the coaching staff. Martin was a defenseman who understood all aspects of the position, whether it was working to keep the puck out of his team's net or chipping in offensively at the other end of the rink. Defense, he says, is a position that has greatly evolved over time, and that especially includes the last two decades when he was playing with the best of the best. "You always used to have the defen- sive defenseman—the 'stay-at-home' defenseman—and then you'd have the offensive defenseman," said Martin, an Elk River native who played in the 2014 Olympics and was named to two other Olympic rosters. "But now I feel, in the game today, all defensemen have to be able to skate, have to be able to be agile and have to be able to move at an elite level." Here are some tips for the mod- ern-day defender from Martin, who finished his NHL career with 320 regu- lar-season points, including 50 goals: PLAYING BOTH ENDS The modern defenseman, Martin says, has to be able to contribute to both the offense and the defense and not simply specialize in one particular skill. Photo / Brad Rempel/Minnesota Athletics, Reggie Photography ICE AWARENESS Being in the right place at the right time is key for any player on the ice, but especially for defensemen, whether they're the last line of defense or hold- ing the zone at the offensive blue line. "The very elite defenseman have really good hockey sense, really good awareness," Martin said. "Some players just have it, but it's definitely some- thing that you can improve your capac- ity, learning time and space and body control." Playing for fun on the outdoor rink or watching video of yourself or other players can help, Martin says. Chaska's Mike Koster fires a shot from the point during a 5-4 Gophers victory at Ohio State. Paul Martin's Tips for Young Blue-Liners