What player does this best describe?

[God]

Even if you throw out the passing component, the Sedins still absolutely had wicked hands when it came to things like stickhandling and controllubg the puck in tight, in the corners, along the wall, as well as all the crazy sort of hand-eye coordination to make those quick one touch tip plays, the patented "slap pass" that required great hands on the receiving end as well, and just generally playing pucks out of the air, etc.

The only aspect they really lacked in terms of "hands"...was the ability to pull of those crazy flashy "dangles" at speed...because they didn't have the speed. But they were both very good stickhandlers, masters of hand-eye coordination, and their whole game was built around puck control in general...which doesn't happen without very good hands.

Again, if your definition of "good/soft hands" includes puck protection, fine. I don't think it's generally seen that way, and that's why I said the Sedins were excellent at fundamentals.

 

[Dumais]

Josh Anderson

Replace playmaking with speed; then yes.

 

[biturbo19]

Again, if your definition of "good/soft hands" includes puck protection, fine. I don't think it's generally seen that way, and that's why I said the Sedins were excellent at fundamentals.

I don't see why you wouldn't include all the insane little details of the Sedins' puck protection puckhandling in the category of "good hands". Cripes, these guys were out there doing all kinds of wild stuff like basically using the boards or the back of the net or whatever they could find as a de facto extra linemate. They just didn't have those big flashy end to end triple deke rushes because they were slow. Everything else about their hands was pretty elite.


Like...in what world is pulling off stuff like this not a demonstration of phenomenal hands?

 

[God]

I don't see why you wouldn't include all the insane little details of the Sedins' puck protection puckhandling in the category of "good hands". Cripes, these guys were out there doing all kinds of wild stuff like basically using the boards or the back of the net or whatever they could find as a de facto extra linemate. They just didn't have those big flashy end to end triple deke rushes because they were slow. Everything else about their hands was pretty elite.


Like...in what world is pulling off stuff like this not a demonstration of phenomenal hands?

You are telling me things that I already know about the Sedins, and I am telling you that I agree with all of them but the definition of good hands doesn't include puck protection (which is largely knowing body position angles) or passing, because they are separate skills.

I could post the video of Marek Malik's shootout attempt and that also wouldn't count towards saying he has good hands. All of these players are obviously skilled players, but we're talking about good relative to their contemporaries.

 

[ESH]

You are telling me things that I already know about the Sedins, and I am telling you that I agree with all of them but the definition of good hands doesn't include puck protection (which is largely knowing body position angles) or passing, because they are separate skills.

I could post the video of Marek Malik's shootout attempt and that also wouldn't count towards saying he has good hands. All of these players are obviously skilled players, but we're talking about good relative to their contemporaries.

I think you just have a very narrow definition of what constitutes “good hands”. The Sedins were elite players because of their ability to make quick plays in tight windows, which wouldn’t have been possible without quick, soft stickhandling. Not necessarily flashy, but efficient and very skilled.

 

[hirawl]

A playmaker with no hands? Yeah no such thing. A very good playmaker with no hands? Say what come again what's that?

 

[yeaher]

good size with very good skating and forechecking ability. Strong in the corners and hard to knock off the puck. Also a very good puck carrier and playmaker but lacks the hands or scoring ability to be an elite player.

What player does this best describe? Hagel?

This is why Nichuskin is so f***ing good. That literally describes him, except he has great hands

 

[biturbo19]

A playmaker with no hands? Yeah no such thing. A very good playmaker with no hands? Say what come again what's that?

This is where a guy like Chandler Stephenson comes to mind for me...as one of the only current examples i can think of, in a guy who is at least a decent playmaker, but doesn't have the greatest hands. But it wanders into that territory of a guy who is more of a "play facilitator" than a true "playmaker". He's also not an amazing finisher, elite shooter, or anything. But he is reasonably sized, very fast, good on the forecheck and yet certainly not an "elite" player by any means.

 

[LokiDog]

Barbashev?

 

[Mike C]

Usually playmakers always have good hands. What's an example of a playmaker that doesn't have good hands?

James Harden

 

[Stephen]

This description probably fits 2/3 of all forwards that played in the Western Conference in the 2010s.

 

[FDBluth]

James Harden

I'd say he's a better example of a shooter than doesn't have a good shot

 

[MessierII]

Again, if your definition of "good/soft hands" includes puck protection, fine. I don't think it's generally seen that way, and that's why I said the Sedins were excellent at fundamentals.

I’ve seen the Sedins pull some crazy moves in tight. Henrik would make some crazy spinning no look back pass to Daniel who pull some quick little deke past the goalie. They were wild with those soft touches in tight.

 

[saintunspecified]

good size with very good skating and forechecking ability. Strong in the corners and hard to knock off the puck. Also a very good puck carrier and playmaker but lacks the hands or scoring ability to be an elite player.

What player does this best describe? Hagel?

This depends on your definition of elite. A guy who is about to have his 2nd 30 goal year (4th 20 goal year) at 26 is on the edge of elite.

Here's one who definitely fits that description: Maxim Tsyplakov. Super strong, good skater, and very good vision. But his skill/hands aren't there.

 

[DFC]

Definitely not Hagel. Hagel is speed, smarts, and a touch of grit. Decent size but really doesn't "play big" at all.

 

[Felidae]

I think the Sedins were the perfect example of this. Their fundamentals were excellent; they knew how to keep body position and get open, but they had horrible hands and would pretty much never deke (and as such, would be horrible in the shootout).

I'm not sure if the OP wants current or former players, but Taylor Pyatt probably fits the bill here pretty well. And Drew O'Connor probably fits here as well.

Against Doughty and Kopitar.

Anyways not that one clip disproves your point but I do agree with biturbo19 and wanted an excuse to post this.

 

[I am Canadian]

Kasperi Kapanen maybe?

 

[God]

Against Doughty and Kopitar.

Anyways not that one clip disproves your point but I do agree with biturbo19 and wanted an excuse to post this.

This clip has like 4-5 more instances of what I'm talking about with respect to their typical style of play (e.g. establishing body position to protect the puck) than the one dangle he's doing on Kopitar defending like a peewee player.

Again, does Marek Malik have good hands because of that one shootout move?

 

[Crow]

This description probably fits 2/3 of all forwards that played in the Western Conference in the 2010s.

Good point.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Jim Slater

 

[Minnesota]

Charlie Coyle is who came to mind for me.

 

[Norwegianoiler]

It's a strange combination of skills, and if OP's list is to be taken at face value, a very difficult player to find. Perhaps Hanzal or Wheeler seem like they at least hit most of these pretty well, but none seem absolutely clear.

So tricky does it seem, in fact, that many of the suggestions here do not make sense at all. Players like Puljujärvi or Yakupov are not at all playmakers, a number of other options are not particularly big or strong on the puck. Take away "playmaker" and you will find a lot of players in the range. That's your fast grinder type. Now, interestingly, if you ADD good scorer, you also find some good choices, like Kovalchuk, Hossa, or Iginla.

But being big and strong and fast AND a good passer with vision, but not being at all adept at scoring, it just seems rare.

 

[Fatass]

good size with very good skating and forechecking ability. Strong in the corners and hard to knock off the puck. Also a very good puck carrier and playmaker but lacks the hands or scoring ability to be an elite player.

What player does this best describe? Hagel?

At 180 Hagel is a good fighter for his size too. Beat up on a Tkatchuk who is a lot bigger.