Is playing a "simple role" make you feel USELESS in games?

Every player experiences a period where their coach demands that they play a “simple role”

It’s tough especially for star players to hear that coming out of lower leagues

Because for maybe the past 2 or 3 seasons they have been hearing nothing but how skilled or important they are to the teams success

They think the only way they are valuable is if they rack up points, pull off risky plays and lead the team offensively

Then a coach making you play simply flips that narrative.

Remember that before you become the player a team relies on to win every night

Your coach is going to need to trust that you’re not a liability on the ice

That you can keep up with the pace, make the smart passes and get the basics done well like:

- Solid defending, taking away shooting or passing lanes
- Getting pucks quickly out the D-Zone
- Breaking into the O-Zone and getting a chance on net

When you can consistently show those basics is when coaches start giving you more room to try more things