Forwards that can also be defenseman

[Fatass]

While watching this year's playoffs, I've seen a few times where defensemen leave the game early with injuries. Unless a team goes with 7 D and 11 FWD's, they are forced to play with five d-men.

I've seen lots of instances where some teams are short on forwards and they have a D who can slide into a 4th line role without being too much of a liability. However, you almost never see the reverse of a forward playing D. I feel like having a forward that can also be a reliable defenseman in a pinch would be a very valuable asset.

Federov was the Wings best forward and best D. He was a phenom.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Kurtis MacDermid can allegedly play as either a forward or defenseman,

Thank you for mentioning the legend as I was about to do so myself

 

[banks]

Burns and Byfuglien.

Man, Byfuglien was such a special player. I was a fan, and followed his career from before his first game as a Blackhawk. And even I didn't appreciate that guy enough. Just a force of nature on skates.

 

[Stelio Kontos]

Kucherov

 

[Bizz]

Jacob MacDonald, now with the Avs organization, played both forward and D for the Sharks 2 seasons ago.

 

[miscs75]

Anders Myrvold

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Thank you for mentioning the legend as I was about to do so myself

There aren't a lot of players that absolutely suck as both a defenseman and a forward. He's an elite
anti-talent!

 

[DaveG]

a couple blasts from the past here but Sami Kapanen and Scott Walker. Walker even started his career as a dman with (I think) Vancouver before making the move to wing.

 

[saintunspecified]

Marner has played as a defenseman a few times, never more than a few shifts though IIRC

Still, that's the kind of player who can do it - the kind of player who can (at a minimum) play defense 'with their feet'. Nobody could do that quite like Federov, of course. Crosby, Barzal, and Point come to mind. I think a 30 y/o Frans Nielsen could do it. The problem with those guys is that I don't think they'd be able to handle it physically over the long haul.

One that hasn't been mentioned who I think could have done it, and held up is Rick Nash.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Always thought Matt Cullen could have done this. He was a pretty well-rounded guy who could be serviceable if a team needed him to fill in.

Edit: I think that the Penguins did actually have him on defense in practice and maybe even once in a game IIRC.

 

[KingsHockey24]

There aren't a lot of players that absolutely suck as both a defenseman and a forward. He's an elite
anti-talent!

Hey now; we haven't had someone do this on the blueline since he left.

 

[gsharpe]

Pretty sure Alex burrows played some d in a pinch.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Adrian Kempe - Oilers Series

I'm convinced he could do it well full-time too, he's lined up there several times in the past.

 

[Big Trout]

If I remember right Andrei Markov was drafted as a center.

 

[Rebels57]

Sami Kapanen, of all people, played defense for the Flyers in the 2004 WCF. Their D was annihilated by injuries and he stepped in and performed admirably.

Had their Defense been healthy the Flyers would have beaten Tampa and the entire NHL wouldn't have been subjected to 20 more years of Tortorella.

 

[Muffin]

You'd be surprised how many star forwards in the NHL can't even skate backwards.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

You'd be surprised how many star forwards in the NHL can't even skate backwards.

NUMBER SIX WILL SHOCK YOU

 

[MoneyManny]

 

[Fig]

Pretty sure Daniil Miromanov has done this. On VGK, atleast.

I don't recall Miromanov on RW, but another VGK/Calgary one is Derek Engelland.

I honestly do believe Matthew Tkachuk could, but he's more valuable as a forward than as a Dman.

 

[VaporTrail]

Phil Housley and Lindy Ruff played both positions

 

[McDonald19]

Getzlaf could have. I believe he filled in at times in the earlier part of his career, at least in practice.