Ray Bourque, the highest-scoring defenceman in NHL history.
Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the latter a reference to the blue line in ice hockey which represents the boundary of the offensive zone; defencemen generally position themselves along the line to keep the puck in the zone). They were once called cover-point.
In regular play, two defencemen complement three forwards and a goaltender on the ice. Exceptions include overtime during the regular season and when a team is short-handed (i.e. has been assessed a penalty), in which two defencemen are typically joined by only two forwards and a goaltender; when a team is on the power play (i.e. the opponent has been assessed a penalty), teams will often play only one defencemen, joined by four forwards and a goaltender. In National Hockey League regular season play in overtime, effective with the 2015-16 season, teams (usually) have only three position players and a goaltender on the ice, and may use either two forwards and one defenceman, or—rarely—two defencemen and one forward.
and a goaltender on the ice, and may use either two forwards and one defenceman, or—rarely—two defencemen and one forward. Organized play of ice hockey...
Coffey (born June 1, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for nine teams over 21 seasons in the National Hockey League...
Bouchard (born October 20, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bouchard...
The CHL Defenceman of the Year Award is given out annually to the top defenceman in the Canadian Hockey League. It is chosen from the winners of the league...
Zayne Parekh (born February 15, 2006) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He is considered a...
Ekblad (born February 7, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey...
Bieksa (born June 16, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Bieksa started and played most of his career with the Vancouver Canucks...
scoring, and play-making abilities to revolutionize the position of defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 12 seasons, the first...
[ˈêːrɪk ˈkɑ̌ːɭsɔn]; born 31 May 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Karlsson...
games. During the offseason, the Oilers acquired forward Connor Brown and defenceman Ben Gleason via free agency. They also re-signed forward Mattias Janmark...
Douglas Makar (born October 30, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was...
11, 1931 – September 9, 2017) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and perennial All-Star, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks of the...
The U Sports Defenceman of the Year is the annual award presented to the U Sports men's ice hockey player who is judged by a committee of the U Sports...
Cody Ceci (born December 21, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League...
ˈhěːdman]; born 18 December 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey...
Darnell Nurse (born February 4, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League...
and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman five times, while...
Landon DuPont (born May 28, 2009) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The ninth player to...
may elect to substitute an extra defenceman for a forward. The seventh defenceman may play as a substitute defenceman, spend the game on the bench, or...
over the Ottawa Nationals. The Oilers drew fans with players such as defenceman and team captain Al Hamilton, goaltender Dave Dryden and forwards Blair...
the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023. Key Notes Wendel Clark was drafted as a defenceman Color key Has never been awarded a 1st overall pick Franchise is defunct...
Rielly /ˈraɪli/ (born March 9, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey...
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