Tag: Balance

Beniers finds balance in Kraken roommate setup

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published: October 22, 2026, 05:45 CEST

Story Summary

Matty Beniers believes a new home routine is helping him find a healthier balance during the Seattle Kraken season. The 23-year-old centre is sharing a house with teammates Mackie Samoskevich and Berkly Catton, and says their company has made it easier to step away from hockey after games rather than dwelling on an individual disappointment.

That matters for a player still measuring himself against the standard of his 2022-23 Calder Trophy-winning campaign. Beniers recorded 57 points in 80 games in his first full NHL season, then produced 50 points in 82 games last season. Through 10 games this season, he has two goals and two assists as Seattle have opened 6-3-1.

The three roommates are contributing to an encouraging offensive opening for the Kraken. Samoskevich has four goals and five points in nine games following his June trade from the Florida Panthers, while Catton has seven points in 10 games. Beniers, Samoskevich and Jared McCann have formed Seattle’s top line, giving the club an effective combination around its young centre.

Key Facts

Matty Beniers has four points, comprising two goals and two assists, in 10 games for the 6-3-1 Seattle Kraken.
Beniers won the Calder Trophy after posting 57 points, including 24 goals and 33 assists, in 80 games during his first full NHL season in 2022-23.
Beniers recorded 50 points, with 20 goals and 30 assists, in 82 games last season.
Mackie Samoskevich has five points, including four goals, in nine games for Seattle this season.
Seattle acquired Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers on June 21 for a first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2027.
Berkly Catton has two goals and five assists in 10 games during his second Kraken season.
Seattle are averaging 3.70 goals per game, the sixth-highest rate in the NHL.
Beniers, Samoskevich and left wing Jared McCann have been Seattle’s effective top line.
Beniers was named an alternate captain when Jordan Eberle became Kraken captain before the 2024-25 season.

IHM Discussion

The appeal of the arrangement is not merely that three young players are enjoying an off-ice friendship. Beniers describes it as a practical means of breaking the post-game cycle that can develop when a player lives alone and replays mistakes. His point is not that standards should disappear; rather, he says the challenge is to retain those standards without allowing one game to dictate the next.

That distinction fits Beniers’ role. He is an alternate captain and a centre expected to contribute at both ends of the rink. Coach Lane Lambert has singled out Beniers’ responsibility and commitment to a 200-foot game, while Beniers has spoken of continuing to develop offensively without compromising that foundation.

The reunion with Samoskevich also gives the household an established connection. The pair spent a year together at the University of Michigan before becoming first-round selections in the 2021 NHL Draft, with Seattle taking Beniers second overall and Florida selecting Samoskevich 24th. Catton, Seattle’s eighth overall pick in 2024, adds another young forward already producing at NHL level.

Their early returns do not make the living arrangement a standalone explanation for Seattle’s scoring, but the players’ own comments show why it has value to them: it creates separation from the game, even while placing them alongside teammates who understand the demands of it.

Why It Matters

Beniers’ individual progress remains significant to Seattle. His Calder season was a major part of the Kraken reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2022-23, and he remains central to the club’s attempt to return there.

Seattle’s offensive start has been supported by more than one player, but the production from Beniers, Samoskevich and Catton gives the team meaningful contributions from a young group. Beniers’ ability to maintain his two-way responsibilities while building on his early offensive total is particularly important because he is operating in a leading role alongside McCann.

For Samoskevich, the trade has quickly created an opportunity alongside a former college teammate. For Catton, the arrangement places him in a daily environment with two players of a similar age who are carrying NHL responsibilities of their own. The common benefit is routine: the trio can leave the rink together, reset, and return prepared for the next day.

Mini Q&A

Who are Matty Beniers’ roommates in Seattle?

Beniers shares a house with Kraken teammates Mackie Samoskevich and Berkly Catton.

How has Beniers started the season?

Beniers has two goals and two assists in 10 games for Seattle.

How did Mackie Samoskevich join the Kraken?

Seattle acquired Samoskevich from Florida on June 21 for a 2026 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 second-round pick.

What line is Beniers playing on?

Beniers has formed Seattle’s effective top line with Samoskevich and left wing Jared McCann.

Coach Mark Comment

The strongest element in Beniers’ early-season picture is the balance between accountability and recovery. Centres asked to play a full-ice game must process mistakes quickly because the next shift can demand a defensive read, a puck-support detail and an attacking decision in rapid succession. Beniers’ emphasis on moving on, supported by a trusted off-ice environment, is consistent with the discipline required to keep that game reliable.

IHM Final View

Beniers has not presented his living arrangement as a cure-all, but he has clearly identified its value: he is less likely to be alone with a frustrating game and more able to reset with teammates who share the same daily demands. With Samoskevich and Catton also contributing early, the Kraken have a young group whose connection is showing both away from the rink and in Seattle’s productive start.

Depth and balance give Hurricanes a real chance to repeat

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published: September 16, 2026, 17:57 CEST

Story Summary

The Carolina Hurricanes enter the new season positioned as legitimate challengers to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, built on balance, leadership and roster depth. Coach Rod Brind’Amour told the ” NHL Wraparound” podcast that keeping the core – including Sebastian Aho, Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis – gives the club a clear road map: ” Once we get up and running, we should be fine.” The club faces a change in net after Frederik Andersen signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, creating opportunity for Brandon Bussi, who won 31 regular-season games and started the last three of the Hurricanes’ championship run after Carolina claimed him off waivers from the Florida Panthers on October 5, 2025. General manager Eric Tulsky’s additions, most notably K’Andre Miller – acquired from the New York Rangers for Scott Morrow, a conditional first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2026 Draft – and signed to an eight-year, $60 million contract ($7.5 million AAV), strengthened the blue line. Offensively the team is led by Sebastian Aho (80 points: 27 goals, 53 assists), with Nikolaj Ehlers contributing 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) after his six-year, $51 million signing ($8.5 million AAV). Observers including Jim Devellano and Hurricanes analyst Tripp Tracy praise the club’s leadership and the coaching of Brind’Amour as central to Carolina’s title defence.

Key Facts

Coach Rod Brind’Amour said on the ” NHL Wraparound” podcast: ” We’re going to be fine because my guys understand what it takes now and we’ve been able to keep our core group — (Sebastian) Aho, (Jaccob) Slavin, and (Seth) Jarvis, among others — and that’s the important thing.”
Frederik Andersen signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1 as an unrestricted free agent.
Brandon Bussi won 31 regular-season games and started the last three of the Hurricanes’ championship run; Carolina claimed him off waivers from the Florida Panthers on October 5, 2025.
Sebastian Aho led Carolina with 80 points (27 goals, 53 assists).
Nikolaj Ehlers had 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) and played all 82 regular-season games after signing a six-year, $51 million contract ($8.5 million AAV) as an unrestricted free agent.
K’Andre Miller was acquired from the New York Rangers for Scott Morrow, a conditional first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft; Miller signed an eight-year, $60 million contract ($7.5 million AAV).
Miller recorded 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists) in 72 regular-season games while averaging 22:24 of ice time.
Role players who contributed offensively during the postseason included Jackson Blake (20 points; seven goals, 13 assists), Taylor Hall (19 points; seven goals, 12 assists), Logan Stankoven (16 points; 11 goals, five assists) and captain Jordan Staal (12 points; eight goals, four assists).
Carolina has won at least one round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the past eight seasons, including four trips to the Eastern Conference Final.
Hurricanes television analyst Tripp Tracy said Brind’Amour “makes everyone dig in and maximise each player’s best version of himself on a daily basis.”

IHM Discussion

The Hurricanes’ title defence is framed less around a single transcendent talent than the sustained functioning of a well-constructed group. The roster blends established two-way centres with productive forwards and depth contributors who delivered in the postseason. Brind’Amour has stressed the value of continuity after Carolina retained a core that includes Sebastian Aho, Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis.

Frederik Andersen’s departure changes the picture in goal, but Brandon Bussi enters the season after 31 regular-season wins and starts in the final three games of the championship run. Eric Tulsky also strengthened the blue line by acquiring mobile defenceman K’Andre Miller, who recorded 37 points in 72 regular-season games while averaging 22:24 of ice time.

Why It Matters

Carolina’s balanced scoring, dependable defensive core and widely praised leadership give the club more ways to withstand a cold spell or an absence than a team reliant on one dominant scorer. The goaltending situation will be closely watched after Andersen’s exit, with Bussi entering a larger opportunity following his 31-win regular season and playoff starts.

Miller’s acquisition adds a mobile defenceman who handled substantial minutes last season. In a league shaped by parity, that depth and continuity give Carolina a credible foundation for another long playoff run, without guaranteeing another championship.

Mini Q&A

Why are the Hurricanes considered a strong bet to repeat?

Carolina retained a core including Sebastian Aho, Jaccob Slavin and Seth Jarvis, while depth contributors produced in the postseason. Rod Brind’Amour believes that continuity gives the group a clear road map for defending the Cup.

What changed in goal for Carolina this off-season?

Frederik Andersen signed a one-year, $2.8 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, opening a larger role for Brandon Bussi, who won 31 regular-season games and started the last three games of the Hurricanes’ championship run.

Who led Carolina offensively last season?

Sebastian Aho led the team with 80 points (27 goals, 53 assists), while Nikolaj Ehlers had 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) and played all 82 regular-season games.

How deep was Carolina’s postseason scoring?

Several contributors produced during the playoffs: Jackson Blake had 20 points, Taylor Hall 19, Logan Stankoven 16 and Jordan Staal 12.

Do outside observers agree Carolina can repeat?

The outlook is positive but cautious. Jim Devellano praised Carolina’s balance and leadership while noting that parity could prevent another Cup, and Tripp Tracy highlighted Brind’Amour’s ability to get the best from his players.

Coach Mark Comment

Carolina’s coaching challenge is to keep roles clear as Bussi takes on a larger opportunity in goal and Miller settles into the blue line. A deep roster is most effective when players know where they fit and the team’s habits remain consistent. Slavin and Staal provide experienced reference points within a group that has already navigated a championship run.

IHM Final View

Carolina’s chance to repeat rests on the elements highlighted around the club: depth, balanced scoring and leadership. Andersen has departed, Miller has joined the blue line, and the returning core remains supported by contributors who produced during the Cup run. Parity and the season’s nightly grind mean nothing is guaranteed, but the Hurricanes have a credible foundation to challenge again.

How Can One-Leg Stability Improve Skating?

IHM Knowledge Center • Training & Performance

How Can One-Leg Stability Improve Skating?

How Can One-Leg Stability Improve Skating? Learn how posture, edge control, force direction, joint position, balance, timing, and fatigue influence skating performance.

Editor: Coach Mark • Updated: August 24, 2026

Short Answer

One-leg stability improves the player's ability to control posture, edges, force transfer, and direction while one skate is supporting most of the body.

Full Explanation

One-Leg Stability Improve Skating should be understood as part of an integrated skating system. Hockey skating depends on how the player positions the body, applies pressure through the blade, directs force, controls the centre of mass, and coordinates each stride with the next.

Efficient skating is not created by one joint or one muscle. It emerges from coordinated ankle, knee, hip, trunk, and arm action combined with edge control, mobility, strength, balance, and timing.

Main Factors

Balance
Edge control
Posture
Force transfer
Direction change

Performance Effect

Better mechanics can improve acceleration, speed maintenance, directional control, energy efficiency, and the ability to handle the puck while moving. Poor mechanics can waste force, increase unnecessary movement, and make the player tire earlier.

Skating Application

Start from a balanced skating stance.
Use enough ankle, knee, and hip flexion to create force-producing positions.
Apply pressure through the appropriate skate edge.
Direct force into useful horizontal or lateral movement.
Recover the skate efficiently under the body.
Maintain coordination as speed and fatigue increase.

Development & Long-Term Progression

Skating mechanics improve through repeated high-quality practice, adequate strength and mobility, progressive speed exposure, and feedback. Technical changes should be reinforced at increasing intensity rather than remaining limited to slow drills.

Decision & Controversy

There is no single visual skating model that every player must copy. Effective skaters can look different because body proportions and individual movement solutions vary. The important question is whether the player creates useful force, controls the blades, maintains balance, and moves efficiently.

Edge Case

A player may appear technically unusual but still be highly effective if the movement consistently creates speed, control, and repeatable force. Conversely, a visually clean stride can still be inefficient if it lacks pressure, timing, or useful force direction.

IHM Signal System: One-Leg Stability Improve Skating

Position signal: Is the body organised to create and control force?
Edge signal: Is blade pressure stable and intentional?
Force signal: Is force directed into useful skating movement?
Timing signal: Are push-off and recovery coordinated efficiently?
Fatigue signal: Do mechanics remain stable as effort accumulates?

Trigger-level rule: If balance or another critical posture, edge-control, force-direction, mobility, or fatigue signal is unclear, do not change the skating pattern solely by adding more effort or speed.

IHM Insight: One-Leg Stability Improve Skating

Skating efficiency is not about making the stride look pretty. It is about converting force into controlled movement with as little waste as possible.

The strongest technical change is one that survives higher speed, puck handling, contact, and fatigue.

Mini Q&A

How Can One-Leg Stability Improve Skating?
One-leg stability improves the player's ability to control posture, edges, force transfer, and direction while one skate is supporting most of the body.

What should be checked first?
Balance.

Does stronger always mean better skating?
No. Strength helps only when the player can direct force efficiently through useful skating positions and timing.

Should skating mechanics look identical for every player?
No. Effective mechanics share principles, but body proportions, mobility, role, speed, and individual style can change the exact appearance.

What is the IHM trigger-level rule?
If balance or another critical posture, edge-control, force-direction, mobility, or fatigue signal is unclear, do not change the skating pattern solely by adding more effort or speed.

Why This Concept Exists

Skating is the movement foundation of ice hockey. Understanding mechanics gives players and coaches a way to connect technical skating problems with strength, mobility, balance, coordination, and fatigue.

Key Takeaways

One-leg stability improves the player's ability to control posture, edges, force transfer, and direction while one skate is supporting most of the body.
Balance is a primary skating factor.
Force direction matters as much as force magnitude.
Edge control connects the body to the ice.
Mobility and strength support technical positions.
Technique should remain effective at game speed.
Fatigue can expose hidden skating limitations.

What Causes Poor Edge Control in Hockey?

IHM Knowledge Center • Training & Performance

What Causes Poor Edge Control in Hockey?

What Causes Poor Edge Control in Hockey? Learn how posture, edge control, force direction, joint position, balance, timing, and fatigue influence skating performance.

Editor: Coach Mark • Updated: August 24, 2026

Short Answer

Poor edge control can result from weak balance, limited ankle control, poor body alignment, insufficient practice, fear of leaning, or difficulty managing pressure through the blade.

Full Explanation

Poor Edge Control in Hockey should be understood as part of an integrated skating system. Hockey skating depends on how the player positions the body, applies pressure through the blade, directs force, controls the centre of mass, and coordinates each stride with the next.

Efficient skating is not created by one joint or one muscle. It emerges from coordinated ankle, knee, hip, trunk, and arm action combined with edge control, mobility, strength, balance, and timing.

Main Factors

Balance
Ankle control
Alignment
Practice exposure
Blade pressure

Performance Effect

Skating Application

Start from a balanced skating stance.
Use enough ankle, knee, and hip flexion to create force-producing positions.
Apply pressure through the appropriate skate edge.
Direct force into useful horizontal or lateral movement.
Recover the skate efficiently under the body.
Maintain coordination as speed and fatigue increase.

Development & Long-Term Progression

Decision & Controversy

Edge Case

IHM Signal System: Poor Edge Control in Hockey

Position signal: Is the body organised to create and control force?
Edge signal: Is blade pressure stable and intentional?
Force signal: Is force directed into useful skating movement?
Timing signal: Are push-off and recovery coordinated efficiently?
Fatigue signal: Do mechanics remain stable as effort accumulates?

IHM Insight: Poor Edge Control in Hockey

Skating efficiency is not about making the stride look pretty. It is about converting force into controlled movement with as little waste as possible.

The strongest technical change is one that survives higher speed, puck handling, contact, and fatigue.

Mini Q&A

What Causes Poor Edge Control in Hockey?
Poor edge control can result from weak balance, limited ankle control, poor body alignment, insufficient practice, fear of leaning, or difficulty managing pressure through the blade.

What should be checked first?
Balance.

Does stronger always mean better skating?
No. Strength helps only when the player can direct force efficiently through useful skating positions and timing.

Why This Concept Exists

Key Takeaways

Poor edge control can result from weak balance, limited ankle control, poor body alignment, insufficient practice, fear of leaning, or difficulty managing pressure through the blade.
Balance is a primary skating factor.
Force direction matters as much as force magnitude.
Edge control connects the body to the ice.
Mobility and strength support technical positions.
Technique should remain effective at game speed.
Fatigue can expose hidden skating limitations.

How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance?

IHM Knowledge Center

How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance?

How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance? Learn how fit, coverage, condition, movement, maintenance, and inspection affect hockey equipment safety.

Editor: Coach Mark • Updated: August 6, 2026

Short Answer

Weight affects balance by changing the player's centre of mass, rotational control, recovery speed, posture, and ability to move limbs naturally.

Safety depends on more than owning the required equipment. Every item must fit the player, remain correctly positioned, retain its protective structure, work with neighbouring gear, and be checked after wear, impact, growth, repair, or storage.

Full Explanation

How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance should be evaluated as part of a complete protective system rather than as an isolated piece of equipment.

Hockey protection works only when every item covers the intended body area, stays stable during movement, and remains structurally capable of absorbing or distributing force.

Main Factors Behind How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance

The most important factors include:

Centre of mass
Rotation
Recovery speed
Posture
Natural movement

How It Affects Protection and Injury Risk

Unsafe equipment can expose vulnerable areas, concentrate impact, restrict movement, reduce balance, or create false confidence. Correct equipment lowers risk but cannot remove the possibility of injury.

How to Evaluate the Safety Condition

Inspect the item visually and by hand.
Confirm fit and protective coverage on the player.
Test straps, hardware, movement, and full-equipment overlap.
Review impact history, repairs, moisture, and storage conditions.
Remove the item from use when structural safety is uncertain.

Elite vs Recreational Players

Elite players experience greater speed, force, repetition, and equipment wear, so inspection and replacement may need to occur more frequently.

Recreational players still require complete protection, correct fit, and reliable condition. Lower playing frequency does not make damaged or poorly fitted equipment safe.

Why This Concept Is Often Misunderstood

Players often judge safety by appearance, price, brand, or whether the equipment still feels usable.

Protective performance depends on structure, fit, positioning, impact history, and compatibility, including problems that may not be visible from the outside.

Edge Case: No Visible Damage After a Major Impact

An item can appear normal after a hard impact while foam, shell attachment, hardware, or internal structure has changed.

Major impacts require a careful inspection, and uncertain head, facial, neck, skate, or structural protection should be removed from use.

IHM Signal System: How to Evaluate How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance

Fit signal: Does the item match the player?
Coverage signal: Is the intended body area fully protected?
Structure signal: Are shell, foam, fabric, and hardware sound?
Movement signal: Does protection remain stable during hockey movement?
Condition signal: Is there any damage, wear, contamination, or uncertain repair?

Trigger-level rule:

If centre of mass or another critical fit, structure, coverage, or condition signal cannot be confirmed, the equipment should not be used until it has been adjusted, professionally inspected, repaired correctly, or replaced.

IHM Insight: How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance

Hockey equipment is only protective when it fits, stays in place, and remains structurally reliable.

The safest routine is simple: inspect regularly, report discomfort immediately, repair only appropriate damage, and replace equipment when protection cannot be verified.

Mini Q&A

How Does Equipment Weight Affect Balance?
Weight affects balance by changing the player's centre of mass, rotational control, recovery speed, posture, and ability to move limbs naturally.

What should be checked first?
Centre of mass.

Can equipment look normal and still be unsafe?
Yes. Hidden cracks, compressed foam, loose hardware, poor fit, and unknown impact history may not be obvious.

Should safety be checked in full equipment?
Yes. Full-equipment testing reveals gaps, overlap problems, restricted movement, and shifting protection.

When should the equipment be removed from use?
If centre of mass or another critical fit, structure, coverage, or condition signal cannot be confirmed, the equipment should not be used until it has been adjusted, professionally inspected, repaired correctly, or replaced.

Why This Concept Exists

Hockey equipment is exposed to impacts, sweat, temperature changes, repeated movement, transport, cleaning, and long-term material wear.

A structured safety process helps players, parents, coaches, and equipment managers identify risk before equipment fails during play.

Key Takeaways

Weight affects balance by changing the player's centre of mass, rotational control, recovery speed, posture, and ability to move limbs naturally.
Centre of mass is a key safety consideration.
Equipment must be evaluated as a complete system.
Fit, coverage, condition, and movement all affect protection.
Hidden damage and poor repairs can create serious risk.
Discomfort, numbness, shifting, and gaps are warning signals.
Do not use equipment when protective integrity is uncertain.