‘HAMMER’ NAILING IT
Hjalmarsson’s defensive prowess draws teammates’ admiration
In hockey vernacular, it’s known as a ‘‘good stick.’’ But for Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, it’s more about the hands, feet and head that go with it.
His smooth skating, particularly while backpedaling, and ability to read an oncoming attacker’s body angle and anticipate his next move invariably allow him to maintain a perfect gap, always a stick-length away from even the fastest offensive talents in the NHL. Few players break up zone entries as efficiently and as often as Hjalmarsson.
‘‘He seems to know where the puck’s going to be, and anytime a guy bobbles it or doesn’t handle it as smoothly as he wants, he seems to be right in his back pocket, taking it from him and sending us the other way,’’ fellow defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. ‘‘I think that’s why he’s so good. We get the puck out of our end so quick whenever he’s out there.’’
It helps that Hjalmarsson uses an unusually long stick, pushing the NHL maximum of 63 inches. When you skate swiftly and carry a big stick, you can break up a lot of zone entries, even when matched up against the other team’s best players, as Hjalmarsson has been for years — first with Johnny Oduya and now with Duncan Keith.
‘‘It’s definitely something that I’ve learned a lot from [coach] Joel [Quenneville],’’ Hjalmarsson said. ‘‘He’s been pressing on that pretty much ever since the first practice when he got here. I have pride in having a good stick and not letting any passes go through me. And I think a lot of players get surprised because I play with a really long stick, so my reach surprises them. They don’t think I’m going to be able to reach the puck.’’
Hjalmarsson rarely is discussed among the best defensemen in the league because he’s not a flashy, offensive-minded player. (His goal Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings was his first of the season.) But in the Hawks’ locker room, he’s regarded every bit as highly as the other members of the threetime Stanley Cup champions’ vaunted core.
His fellow defensemen marvel at how efficient he is, with little wasted motion or wasted energy.
‘‘Being a defenseman is pretty tough, and I’m sure he’s working hard and all that, but he makes it look pretty easy,’’ Brent Seabrook said. ‘‘It’s fun to watch him play when he’s in his own zone and just being able to get sticks on everything.’’
Hjalmarsson first was paired with Keith during the stretch run last season, and he’s beginning to realize that shooting lanes are starting to open up for him with Keith drawing so much attention. Hjalmarsson has been shooting more lately (finally scoring Saturday) and has picked up four assists in the last 10 games.
The offense is great, but that’s not Hjalmarsson’s game. His game is to keep pucks out of his own net — whether it’s with his positioning, his stick work or his body. Nearly every game, Hjalmarsson is spotted wincing in pain and lurching toward the bench after throwing his body in front of a foe’s slap shot. But he never misses a shift.
It’s a sacrifice many players make, but few do it as well as Hjalmarsson. In fact, few defensemen in the league do almost anything on the ice quite as well as Hjalmarsson. And while few outside of the Hawks’ inner circle and the diehards notice, Hjalmarsson’s work and work ethic are highly valued by those who see them most.
‘‘Defensive defensemen probably don’t get the recognition or the attention of the guys that put up points and bring a little more offense to the game,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘But I think there’s a lot of appreciation from the organization, the coaches, teammates, defense partners and goaltenders for what he can do and how he plays the game.
‘‘He’s what you want in a defenseman. You look around the league, he probably does that job as quietly and as efficiently as anybody.’’