Improve Your First 3 Steps

Off-season player development series (1)

There are many ways to be a good or poor skater.

The most important aspect, when we compare prospects who succeed and those who fail to make the NHL, is the ability to get out of the blocks quickly.

Some established NHLers lack feel on their outside edges. Others don’t glide so well. But all show tremendous first-step (or first-three-steps) quickness. This quality is a must in an environment where the puck changes hands over 200 times per game. A slow-reacting player will be late to offensive and defensive situations. They’ll therefore will have a severely limited ability to impact the game in a positive way.

Players such as Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and even Brad Marchand are known for their explosiveness when accelerating from a standstill.

Playoff Playbook: Brad Marchand's Off-Puck Details

So is skating pop genetics, work ethic or technique?

It’s all three, certainly.

Some are born gifted, but all can improve in this must-have attribute.

Here’s a video case study featuring 2025 NHL draft eligible Philippe Veilleux, a skilled offensive creator and an improving skater.

(If you’re an NHL scout interested in watching Veilleux’s high-definition, slow-motion skating clips, send me an email at jack.han@hey.com)