Washington Capitals assistant coach Reid Cashman gave a presentation called “Building Deception In Your D[efense]” on the second day of the 2019 Hockey Coaches Conference at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario on Friday afternoon. Here are some highlights from his presentation:

On ice session done. Back at the main hall and ready for the next presentation #2019HCC pic.twitter.com/uEJmyWe6YE

— Gus Katsaros🏒 (@KatsHockey) July 19, 2019

Cashman said that there are two key qualities of an NHL defenseman: highly efficient and highly consistent. The key takeaway was to create the illusion of multiple options in order to make things difficult for the opposition. He went on to say that if a defense can stick to that, the team will likely have success.

“If your eyes are up and the puck is on the hip, the defenseman gives the illusion of multiple options and makes life difficult for the opponent,” Cashman said. “[Defensemen] can create time and space for their partner by creating deception with their feet. Toes face away from where they want the puck to go, and watch the forecheckers bite on the deception.”

Reid Cashman of @Capitals with an unreal presentation on “Building deception in your D”. Not enough room here to share what I learned. Two key qualities of a NHL D, highly efficient and highly consistent. Key takeaway, create the illusion of multiple options. @TheCoachesSite pic.twitter.com/UPRpj7MQcq

— Pyramid Hockey (@johnbecanic) July 19, 2019

Other presenters at the conference on Friday included former Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis, San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer, and Vegas Golden Knights assistant coach Mike Kelly.

Cashman is in charge of the Capitals’ defense and coached the AHL’s Hershey Bears, the team’s minor league affiliate, for two years before being promoted to the Capitals’ assistant job to replace Lane Lambert, who left to join former head coach Barry Trotz’s staff with the New York Islanders. Cashman came over to Hershey after coaching the NCAA’s Quinnipiac Bobcats for the previous five seasons.

By Harrison Brown