Nobody, anywhere is preventing any attacker from blocking shots. However, as the 108 current leaders of the NHL in this chapter are defensemen, one ends up deducing that this thankless art is reserved for the backs.
However, there are a few exceptions. Over the years, Nick Bonino has proven himself to be an expert in this field. We wouldn’t have instinctively thought of him, but Auston Matthews is the most prolific among forwards this season. We must also now include the name of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard to this select group.
Since the Canadiens recalled him from the American League on January 17, no forward has blocked more shots than him (40) in the entire NHL. Within his team, only David Savard (59) is ahead of him in the interval. In addition, his pace of 6.48 blocked shots per 60 minutes played is a high for any forward in the league who has played at least 20 games in 2022-23.
With some players, these actions are unsolicited. Talk to Jack Hughes who accidentally fell on Saturday night and absorbed a cannonball fired by Jesse Ylönen with his body. Make no mistake: it’s no coincidence that put Harvey-Pinard ahead of 40 shots over the past two months.
“It’s a skill that develops, confirms the principal concerned. You have to practice and block more and more, game after game, so that it becomes automatic. »
Technical
A quick poll of a few number 49 teammates confirms that his dedication and technique don’t go unnoticed.
“I noticed it last year when he was playing with the Laval Rocket in the playoffs,” said Kaiden Guhle. It’s a big part of his game. We need a guy like him. »
Anthony Richard, who was then playing with the Syracuse Crunch, faced Harvey-Pinard in the first round of the playoffs last spring. When the Rocket was shorthanded, “I felt like I could beat him on a pitch, but at the last moment he would kick his foot or his leg out,” Richard said.
The latter praises the intelligence of the one who was his teammate.
He is positioning himself well. Often, wingers play closer to defenders, so it’s harder to block shots. With my speed, I like to put more pressure to create turnovers. But Rafael, he plays a little lower in his zone, he has confidence in his ability to block shots, and he does it wonderfully. I have never seen such a good guy [à ce chapitre]. He plays like a keeper.
Anthony Richard
Samuel Montembeault abounds. “Defenders are so mobile… Guys like Adam Fox or Shea Theodore, if you go too fast on them, they’ll fake it, you’ll bite and they’ll come in with more space and time to get a good shot. shot. »
Harvey-Pinard “respects the defenders”, underlines the goalkeeper. “He doesn’t attack too quickly, he remains patient, he finds the right line of fire. And the puck hits him. »
Logically, in the defensive zone, defenders block shots closer to the goal than attackers. Does having the action happen farther from the goaltender change anything about his eye contact with the puck? “Not really… As long as he blocks her, it makes my job easier!” Montembeault exclaims. It would be problematic if he blocked my view and the puck passed, but that’s not a problem. He remains standing for a long time and gets into a blocking position at the right time. »
Gratification
The defensemen who gobble the most pucks generally pride themselves on this aspect of their game. Harvey-Pinard sees things in the same light.
“I’ve been doing it since I was very young,” he says. For me, it is very gratifying. Guys get up on the bench, you get congratulated. I know that if I want to climb to the next level and stay permanently in the NHL, I have to provide details that others do not. I think blocking shots is part of it. »
His coach thinks the same way. “He has good details, that’s an asset,” said Martin St-Louis. It’s a state of mind, too. Blocking pitches isn’t fun, but it’s important. »
Why isn’t that expected of all attackers, then? “It’s expected of everyone,” replies St-Louis.
We take notes at home.