A firsthand account of how difficult it is adjusting to a new defense partner in the NHL

Tyler Yaremchuk was joined by Colby Cohen to discuss what it’s like adjusting to a new defense partner in the NHL on the latest episode of Daily Faceoff Live.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Is it more difficult for a forward or a defenseman to transition to a new team when they get traded. Colby, the way I want to flip this to you, you obviously had a bunch of D partners in your career, what’s the toughest part about adjusting to a new D partner?

Colby Cohen: I think it’s just that sixth sense and predictability is probably the best word I want to use for this. I know Carter Hutton used that word so often during the trade deadline special that we did here on DFO and I think that’s the perfect word. You get really used to playing with somebody and that can get really upended.

From my own experience my entire college career I played with Kevin Shattenkirk and I played on the off side but I knew where he was going to be, there was this sixth sense. I got to pro hockey and the entire training camp I was with John Michael-Liles and you get to know a guy and know where he’s going and what he’s going to do.

So, I think the predictability factor is really what it comes down to it. Look, it is difficult, especially when you get a new partner and a new system. Are you man-to-man, are you doing a layered look, partial man-to-man but out high with more of a layered zone, every team does it a little bit differently, do the forwards back pressure the puck or do they back pressure the weak side. So does that give you the ability to stand on the strong side.

There’s a lot of things that you take for granted when you have predictability and familiarity that you lose when you switch teams or switch systems and switch D partners.

You can watch the rest of the episode here: