Hockey is often perceived as a game of speed, power, and finesse, where dazzling stickhandling, lightning-fast skating, and booming slap shots take center stage. However, beneath the surface of these headline-grabbing skills lie a set of subtle, often-overlooked abilities that can make all the difference in a player’s game. These underrated skills—such as body positioning, defensive awareness, and play-reading ability—are not only essential for success but can also give players a significant competitive edge when mastered. In this post, we’ll explore these and other less-celebrated aspects of hockey that separate the good from the great.

1. Body Positioning: Owning Your Space

While speed and stickhandling steal the show, effective body positioning is the backbone of every successful play. Great players know how to use their body to shield the puck, win battles along the boards, and establish position in front of the net. Mastering body positioning allows a player to maximize their physical assets—whether they’re 6’4″ or 5’9″. 

For instance, look at players like Patrice Bergeron or Mark Stone. Neither is known for their blazing speed or flashy moves, but both dominate games with impeccable body positioning. Whether it’s angling opponents into the boards or gaining inside leverage to disrupt passing lanes, these players understand how to control space on the ice. Smart positioning reduces the need for unnecessary physical play, saving energy and preventing penalties while maintaining control.

Defensive and offensive zones both benefit from strong positioning. On defense, body positioning ensures that you keep opponents to the outside and out of dangerous scoring areas. Offensively, it’s about finding that open pocket of space, ready to capitalize on a scoring opportunity. Whether you’re boxing out an opponent or placing yourself in the goalie’s line of sight, effective body positioning can be the difference between a missed chance and a game-winning goal.

2. Defensive Awareness: Reading and Reacting Like a Pro

In a sport often dominated by goals and offensive highlights, defensive awareness doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Yet, having a strong defensive sense can elevate a player’s game to another level, especially for forwards who are often praised for their offensive output. 

Defensive awareness goes beyond shot-blocking or simply clearing the zone—it’s about anticipating where the puck will be, reading the opposing team’s plays, and making quick, smart decisions to break them up. This includes cutting off passing lanes, angling attackers to the outside, and knowing when to step up for a poke check or stay back and contain. It’s the ability to think two steps ahead, anticipating the movement of both the puck and the opposition.

Players like Ryan O’Reilly and Jaccob Slavin exemplify this often-ignored skill. They aren’t necessarily the flashiest on the ice, but their defensive intelligence disrupts opposing offenses and creates turnovers that lead to scoring opportunities for their own teams. These players know how to use their sticks and body positioning to force turnovers without getting caught out of position or committing costly penalties.

Mastering defensive awareness makes a player far more versatile, turning them into a two-way threat. Coaches appreciate players who understand that defense starts with smart positioning, active sticks, and quick reactions. It’s this level of defensive intelligence that allows teams to transition smoothly from defense to offense.

3. The Ability to Read Plays: Seeing the Game in 4D

Elite hockey players don’t just see the puck; they see the entire play developing, often in ways that others can’t. The ability to read plays is perhaps the most elusive and underappreciated skill in hockey. It requires an acute sense of anticipation, spatial awareness, and an understanding of not only where the puck is but where it’s going to be.

Take Sidney Crosby, for example. While his hands and skating are undeniably elite, one of the traits that separates him from others is his play-reading ability. He seems to have a sixth sense of where his teammates and opponents are on the ice, and he’s often three or four steps ahead of the play. This allows him to exploit defensive breakdowns, anticipate rebounds, and make pinpoint passes that most players wouldn’t even attempt.

A player’s ability to read plays is vital on both sides of the puck. Offensively, it’s about knowing when to make a pass, when to shoot, or when to cycle the puck to maintain pressure. Defensively, it’s about identifying potential threats and making sure you’re in the right position to prevent scoring chances. Good play-reading turns a player into a game-changer, allowing them to anticipate and disrupt the flow of play, creating opportunities out of thin air.

4. Puck Retrieval: Winning the Battle for Possession

One of the least glamorous yet most impactful aspects of hockey is puck retrieval. The ability to retrieve pucks—whether it’s off a dump-in, a rebound, or a loose puck in the neutral zone—is a fundamental skill that keeps your team in possession and creates offensive opportunities. 

Puck retrieval is especially important for defensemen and wingers, who are often tasked with winning races to the puck and maintaining control under pressure. A strong puck retrieval game requires quick acceleration, good body positioning, and the awareness to make smart plays under pressure. Whether it’s a defenseman skating back to retrieve the puck in their own end or a forward chasing down a loose puck in the offensive zone, winning these battles can make the difference in a tight game.

Players like Duncan Keith or Brad Marchand excel at puck retrieval. Their ability to retrieve and quickly move the puck either out of danger or to create scoring chances for their team is an underrated component of their game. For defensemen in particular, having the poise to retrieve pucks and make clean outlet passes under duress is a crucial part of transitioning from defense to offense.

5. Puck Support: Creating Options for Your Teammates

Puck support is one of the less talked about but highly essential components of successful team play. It refers to the positioning and movement of players without the puck to create passing lanes and provide options for the puck carrier. In essence, it’s about giving your teammates an easy out by being in the right spot at the right time.

Smart players understand that supporting the puck means maintaining a good gap between themselves and the puck carrier, staying close enough to offer help but far enough to stretch the defense. This skill is often overlooked, but it’s what allows teams to maintain puck possession, sustain pressure in the offensive zone, and break out cleanly from the defensive zone.

Teams that excel at puck support tend to dominate puck possession and wear down their opponents. By always providing an outlet for the puck carrier, players can keep the play alive and generate quality scoring chances.

The Silent Game-Changers

While speed, shooting, and hands often take the spotlight, hockey’s most underrated skills are what truly set elite players apart. Mastering body positioning, defensive awareness, the ability to read plays, puck retrieval, and puck support doesn’t just enhance a player’s individual performance—it makes them invaluable to their team.

In hockey, it’s often said that the game is won and lost in the details. It’s the players who excel in these nuanced areas, who understand the intricacies of positioning and play-reading, that consistently give their teams the edge. For young players aspiring to improve their game, focusing on these overlooked skills can unlock new levels of performance and make them stand out in a sport that demands excellence in every aspect. So, while the highlight reel goals and dazzling dangles will always draw cheers, it’s the mastery of these underrated skills that wins championships.