Gone are the days of the stay at home and basically be a big old brusier defensemen. Guys on the back end now need to be mobile, intelligent, have good vision and passing and be able to put the puck on net with a good amount of velocity. At the Philadelphia Forge we try to mould all our players into all around team members who contribute at both ends of the ice and it is no different whether you are a forward or a defenseman. All of our d men are expected to be able to hold their own on the penalty kill blocking shots and passing lanes while then being able to step up onto the power play if necessary where quick puck movement and the ability to either hit a stick for a deflection or to be able to wind up a big slapper to blast it past the goalie. In a way this versatility means they can play anywhere on the ice at a pinch.