At training camp, we had to decide what kind of player he should be. Should he just shoot the puck, or should he be a steady defenseman who could do other things He's got to do more than shoot the puck to play at this level. He had to learn that. He's still not nearly out of the woods, but he's made progress in the games he's played.
Quotes about defenseman (16 Quotes)
We are very pleased to have Andy under contract as we believe he has an incredibly bright future with our organization, ... He came into training camp and through his play earned himself a contract now, as opposed to us going through another full year of evaluating his play in junior hockey. At the same time, it was the consensus of the coaching staff that we would not be furthering his development by keeping him in Tampa as the sixth defenseman right now. We want him to go back to Prince George and have a big year for his team, make the Canadian National Jr. Team, and help lead his team into the playoffs. We are confident that Andy is going to have a very long career with the Lightning, and getting him signed today and returning him to his junior team are the next steps on what has been an incredibly positive path thus far.
Somebody was in front and made the defenseman concentrate on someone else, ... I just whacked at it and it went in. I was a little lucky there.
He's definitely an all-around player he can do it all. But our team really needed some defense and he has been able to step in and do it and do a good job at it. He's probably a better forward than he is a defenseman -- and you definitely don't get the stats or attention that you would as a forward -- but he's a real team guy and accepts any challenge we give him in the name of the team.
The book on Pratt is he's a solid, steady defenseman. He can move the puck. He's got pretty good mobility. He's a veteran defenseman.
Oleg is a highly skilled defenseman who entered the NHL at a very young age and is just reaching his prime, ... His speed and ability to run a power play will put him in an important role for our defense. Oleg has played well over the last two seasons in Russia and is excited to return to North America.
He's good defensively, but tonight he made plays with the puck, which was nice to see. Sometimes as a defensive defenseman on an offensive team they always want you to do more than you're capable of doing. His game has gotten much better with the puck.
In training camp I've noticed a big difference. Every time we play with a veteran defenseman on my team, it just seems much easier to do my job. Hopefully that's a sign of things to come.
Cory is a real good person and he'll be good for our team chemistry. It's an opportunity for Cory. I can't tell you whether he'll be the sixth, or seventh or eighth defenseman, I can't tell you. That'll be decided over the next 20 games.
I kept making the point that when we drafted him I didn't see him as a classic offensive defenseman,
It's Jamie's mobility and ability to move the puck, ... The days of having defensemen who just defend may be waning. With today's game, and the pace and tempo, and the requirement that a defenseman has to be able to make plays, makes Jamie as attractive as ever.
During his time with our organization, Bruno has shown that he can be a capable NHL defenseman, ... He is one of the players we hope can continue to mature and become a fixture on our defense.
Right now, after the first (few) days of camp, our sixth defenseman is not here. We still have 212 weeks.
That was one of the few shots that go through. Chris did a nice job fending off the defenseman and getting off a nice shot. Tonight was the first game he played up front for us. He's been our fourth defenseman, but with all the injuries, I had no choice but to put him up there. It worked out pretty well for us.
I didn't have much choice. Their guy was right behind me and my defenseman went to the other side. You have to play the puck and take the penalty if it's called. You can always kill the penalty.
As a forward now, you have to start thinking. As a defenseman, you turn your brain off for 60 minutes and play the game. But now that he has to play a smart position, he's done a pretty good job with the transition.