His job title has always been the same, what he calls a “defending defenseman,” but how the Coyotes’ Klas Dahlbeck has executed that style has evolved.
When he roamed the larger ice surfaces in Sweden, Dahlbeck frustrated the opponent with his positioning and stick work.
Now that the rink has shrunk for the 24-year-old to the NHL parameters, less space has meant more opportunity to close in with a body check – a piece of the action that has become a staple of Dahlbeck’s repertoire this season.
“I’m a big guy, and that’s something I should use to my advantage,” he said.