Forwards that can also be defenseman

[PistolPete]

Came in here to mention Dustin Byfuglien, but I see that he's already been mentioned several times already. I hope he's doing well and enjoying all the fishing he's doing.

Another player that came to mind, although in reverse, is Kevin Connauton. He's a defenseman, but was occasionally deployed as a checking line forward for the Coyotes.

D playing forward isn't that uncommon.

Hously, Greschner, Ken Houston, Reinhardt, Ruotsalainen, McSorley, John Marks...seems every generation of players has a couple.

Kind of surprised it's not more common, like a utility player in baseball.

 

[Summer Rose]

D playing forward isn't that uncommon.

Hously, Greschner, Ken Houston, Reinhardt, Ruotsalainen, McSorley, John Marks...seems every generation of players has a couple.

Kind of surprised it's not more common, like a utility player in baseball.

There was an old VHS tape I liked to watch back in the day called Super Duper Baseball Bloopers (which I think is on YouTube now). It featured noted utility player Jose Canseco. Spliced together some clips to make it seem like he was touching the ball on every play, such as fielding a ground ball and then throwing out the batter at first… to himself. Funny stuff.

 

[PistolPete]

There was an old VHS tape I liked to watch back in the day called Super Duper Baseball Bloopers (which I think is on YouTube now). It featured noted utility player Jose Canseco. Spliced together some clips to make it seem like he was touching the ball on every play, such as fielding a ground ball and then throwing out the batter at first… to himself. Funny stuff.

AI before there was AI. Canseco was ahead of the times!

 

[Corrupt University]

Dallas has Brendan Smith who plays both. Looks pretty good when called up from the A. Hasn't played up since the regular season and that may be why we haven't seen him yet in the playoffs.

 

[Moose Head]

Way back when, I recall Lemaire dressing 5 defensemen for the Habs for a number of playoff games. His plan in case the Habs lost a dman or two during the game was to move Gainey to defense. Some people thought he could be a Langway type if he played defense.

 

[PlayersLtd]

For Ottawa there was Christophe Schubert who was trialled at forward for a hot minute.
Same for Chris Phillips early in his career.
David Perron played a shift on D this year.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

They had Ristolinen play defense his entire career.

 

[Hanji]

I’m just amazed how many people can’t properly spell Sergei Fedorov.

 

[Jericho111091]

#1 dman Adrian Kempe

 

[Jericho111091]

#1 D Adrian Kempe

 

[PistolPete]

Way back when, I recall Lemaire dressing 5 defensemen for the Habs for a number of playoff games. His plan in case the Habs lost a dman or two during the game was to move Gainey to defense. Some people thought he could be a Langway type if he played defense.

I always found it odd Langway got all the hype after the trade to Washingron when before the trade Engblom was the superstar at the defensive side of defense. I think he got some Norris consideration one or two seasons before the trade. The Habs even left Langway exposed in the '79 expansion draft and then made deals for teams to pass on him.

 

[SML2]

I would say K'Andre Miller, but he really can't play D. The experiment is over. They really need to see how he does as a forward.

 

[OldCraig71]

I believe that Bob Gainey could have been a great defenseman; he won 4 Selke trophies, and long-time Russian coach Tikhonov described him as technically the most complete player in the world.

 

[1989]

There was an old VHS tape I liked to watch back in the day called Super Duper Baseball Bloopers (which I think is on YouTube now). It featured noted utility player Jose Canseco. Spliced together some clips to make it seem like he was touching the ball on every play, such as fielding a ground ball and then throwing out the batter at first… to himself. Funny stuff.

Not Canseco but the clip starts at 2:46 with José Oquendo of the Cardinals.

 

[Summer Rose]

Not Canseco but the clip starts at 2:46 with José Oquendo of the Cardinals.

Oops! My mistake.

 

[Leafshater67]

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

Mason Geertsen too. Both were lifelong D moved to the wing to fight. Happens more than you think,

Deslauriers was a dman once upon a time too. He was in junior when I played against him anyways.

 

[Haatley]

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

He was a forward in junior. Now a full time defenceman.

 

[Brent Burns]

Nobody did it as "entertainingly" as David Koci
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Sharks had a history of doing this pretty often with having AHL/7th defensemen come in as 4th line forwards for many years, true utility players. I want to say it began mostly to avoid the call up/send down to AHL because Sharks affiliate was in Worcester at the time. GM Doug Wilson was also an offensive defenseman himself so probably had confidence they could handle themselves.
Some of the most enjoyable Sharks games I’ve seen were when they first moved Brent Burns from D to Joe Thornton’s wing, that line caused absolute mayhem on the forecheck

 

[iamjs]

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

Because his name comes up all the time in these dual position threads, how roughly how many games did he play on D?

I recall him filling in on D as needed, and this article from 2008 describes his time on D as him "spending a bit of time", which really could be anything.

 

[Stive Morgan]

John Madden probably (the former NJ Devil, not the football guy lol)

 

[Fatass]

Because his name comes up all the time in these dual position threads, how roughly how many games did he play on D?

I recall him filling in on D as needed, and this article from 2008 describes his time on D as him "spending a bit of time", which really could be anything.

Ask Scotty Bowman. He’s the one who played Fedorov as D and said he was their best. What would he know though, right?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Because his name comes up all the time in these dual position threads, how roughly how many games did he play on D?

I recall him filling in on D as needed, and this article from 2008 describes his time on D as him "spending a bit of time", which really could be anything.

IIRC almost all of Jan 1997 he played D and then did it often later in the season as well

 

[Reality Czech]

Erik Karlsson

But can he play defense tho?

Goons Paul Bissonette and Tony Twist played D early in their careers before they got put at forward.

 

[Rorschach]

Darryl Sydor was playing forward when Kamloops on their Calder Cup run during Sydor’s draft year.

 

[The S5]

Sure, Makar and Hughes are good examples.