Squid is a fairly common term in hockey. It usually refers to a situation where the defensemen cover a lot of ice area with no one in particular assigned to cover them. This is especially common in hockey leagues where there is a large open space in front of the net and not too much attention given to defense in the first place. In these types of situations, the offense will send plenty of players out to attack the net, leaving the defensemen to try to cover as many areas as they can. There is also the occasional “squid tournament” where teams will form two opposing lines and try to get as many of their players in the opposing teams’ end to get a leg up on the competition.
This is the short answer as to what the term “Squid” means in hockey. It can be rather confusing to a newcomer to the sport because there is no single answer to this question and it can vary from one meaning to another, depending on the situation at hand. However, if you are a hockey fan, knowing the different kinds of Squids in the NHL will enhance your understanding of the game significantly.
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The Defensive Squid
This is probably the most common kind of Squid in the NHL. This is the situation where the defenseman is responsible for covering the most amount of ice area with no one in particular assigned to cover him. This means he is the last line of defense and it is his job to stop the puck as efficiently as possible. In order to do so, he will need to cover a lot of space, which can be challenging. In fact, the most difficult part of playing defense is knowing where to position yourself in relation to the puck so that you can keep track of it while still covering a lot of area.
This is also the position where the defenseman is the closest to the puck when it is in play. This is mostly due to the way the position is designed. The feet are almost always in front of the net in order to be able to reach the puck quickly if it comes in for a shot. The farther the feet are from the net, the more room the defenseman has to maneuver. While it is great to have a long reach, it is also crucial to know when to use it and when not to. For instance, if the play is going in the other direction and the defenseman does not have the long reach, he will likely be the first player to be out of position, which can lead to an easy goal for the opposing team.
In addition to covering a lot of space, these types of defenders are also responsible for jumping up to catch occasional passes from the point. Since the play is mostly heading in the opposite direction, this will likely be the last thing the defenseman does before the puck is planted firmly in the opponent’s net.
The Situational Squid
Like the other type of squid discussed above, this one also has multiple meanings. Depending on the situation, it can refer to any of the following:
- A player who is covering an area of the ice where he has no specific assignment, but must cover it due to numerical superiority;
- A defensive player who is taking a shot from the point and must drop down quickly to prevent the puck from entering the net;
- An offensive player (usually a winger) who is rushing the puck towards the net and it is the responsibility of the defensemen to contain him and prevent the opposing team from gaining an advantage through sheer numbers;
- A defenseman who is covering a lot of space and must drop down quickly to prevent the puck from entering the net;
- A forward who has the puck on a rush and needs to be contained by at least two defenders in order to prevent an icing;
- A defensive player (usually a defenseman) who does not have the assignment to cover the point but must do so in order to prevent the opposing team from gaining an advantage through the use of a quick, agile forward (usually a winger) known for his breakaway speed;
- A goalie who is in a slump or has had some bad luck, which has forced him to cover more area than usual;
- A forward who is taking a shot from the point and must retreat quickly to avoid being hit by the goalie or an opposing player;
- A goalie who has lost track of the puck and must scramble to recover it, usually leading to several goalmouths and lots of scoring chances for the team looking for the puck;
- A forward who has the puck on a partial breakaway and must be defended by a defenseman as he approaches the net.
The Goalie Squid
This type of Squid is fairly self-explanatory. It is the situation where the goalie must cover a lot of ice area with no one in particular assigned to cover him. The key difference with this type of Squid is that it is not the goalies’ job to stop the puck. Rather, it is the defensemen’s and forwards’ job to do so. The position of the goalie is simply to make the saves. It is often times a situation where several goalies are fighting for the puck, which leads to some very exciting moments.
The Special Teams Squid
In addition to the above, there is also the special teams squid, where a defensemen or a forward is covering the point for the special teams. This is particularly common in leagues where extra players are on the ice for the special teams and it is the job of the defensemen to prevent the opposing team from scoring through the extra players, regardless of whether they are on the rush or in an offensive position. There will often be situations in the NHL where the defenders will be out there with only their sticks to protect the net because there is no one on the ice to stop the opposing player from entering the zone. This is why it is so crucial to have a good defensive system in place and know when to activate it.
As mentioned above, learning the different kinds of Squids in hockey will enhance your understanding of the game significantly. To give you a better idea of what they mean, here is a short explanation of each one.
The Defensive Squid
This is the most common kind of Squid in hockey. This is the situation where the defenseman is responsible for covering a lot of ice area with no one in particular assigned to cover him. This is mostly due to the position itself. The feet are almost always in front of the net in order to be able to reach the puck quickly if it comes in for a shot. The farther the feet are from the net, the more room the defenseman has to maneuver. Since the play is mostly heading in the opposite direction, this will likely be the last thing the defenseman does before the puck is planted firmly in the opponent’s net.
This is also the position where the defenseman is the closest to the puck when it is in play. This is mostly due to the way the position is designed. The feet are almost always in front of the net in order to be able to reach the puck quickly if it comes in for a shot. The farther the feet are from the net, the more room the defenseman has to maneuver. While it is great to have a long reach, it is also crucial to know when to use it and when not to. For instance, if the play is going in the other direction and the defenseman does not have the long reach, he will likely be the first player to be out of position, which can lead to an easy goal for the opposing team.
The Situational Squid
Like the other type of squid discussed above, this one also has multiple meanings. Depending on the situation, it can refer to any of the following: