“ So you’ re going into the corner against Dustin Byfuglien, and you’ re Mathieu Perreault – there’ s a big difference in size”
“ If you don’ t win your one-on-one battles, you’ re not going to get the puck back,” said Vincent.“ You may have the best system in the world, but if you don’ t win that battle, then you’ re not going to get it.
“ So you’ re going into the corner against Dustin Byfuglien, and you’ re Mathieu Perreault – there’ s a big difference in size. But you need to find a way to win those battles. It’ s different for every player.”
For a defenceman the size of Byfuglien, winning a oneon-one battle can be done on strength alone. But for someone like Josh Morrissey, who stands six feet and weighs 195 pounds, a bit more strategy is needed.
Enter five-time Stanley Cup champion and Jets assistant coach, Charlie Huddy.
“ For smaller guys a lot of it is body position,” he said.“ You get in and you get too tight on bigger guys and they want you to do that. They want you to get on the body so they can spin off you. I always say to Josh, give yourself a little bit of a buffer. Be off him a foot or so, and still use your stick. If the guy tries to spin off you, you still have body position on him.”
Case in point, the Jets opening goal in the final matchup of the season against the Vegas Golden Knights.
First, Morrissey separated Alex Tuch from the puck in a one-on-one off the rush. Then, he won a puck battle below the goal line in the Jets’ end of the ice, stealing it away from both Tuch and Cody Eakin before threading an outlet pass to Kyle Connor, leading to Joel Armia’ s 10th goal of the season.
The importance of these battles is so crucial, the Jets have shifted the focus of the off-season’ s development camp to focus on those small details. Puck retrievals, quick passes and body position are the main priority for young prospects from the moment they’ re introduced to the team.
“ It’ s skill development, but not toe-drag development,” said Maurice.“ We went out on the ice with them and worked on things that are very important in the NHL game – the ability to go back and get the puck and make something happen with it.
“ Sometimes it’ s just a clean simple play.”