NHL Development Camps are a key part of a team’s offseason strategy, focused on player development, evaluation, and building organizational culture. Held in July, these camps differ from NHL Training Camps in September, which are centered around final preparations and roster decisions ahead of the regular season.
We were extremely fortunate to attend Day 3 of the Buffalo Sabres Development Camp, where the team focused on puck races, puck battles, defensive habits, offensive puck support, and competitive small-area games. Earlier in the week, the team concentrated on individual skills, gradually progressing into team concepts. Day 4 concluded the on-ice portion of the camp with an intrasquad scrimmage.
We are grateful to the NHL and the Buffalo Sabres for making these practices open to the pubic. Across the NHL, development camps are a really exciting time for the prospects and organization, but also for fans, hockey players, parents, and coaches to be able to get an inside look into their favorite teams.
Below we will show the 6 drills and small area games that were utilized during day 3 practice of the Sabres Development camp, along with development camp takeaways.
Drill 1: 1 v 1 Race to Puck to 2 v 2
1 v 1 Race to Puck to 2 v 2 Drill is a race to the puck and the winner is on offense. After a player wins the puck, they pass to teammate at the dot to start a 2 v 1 rush. The losing team is on defense and the losing teams player at the dot backchecks, which creates a 2 v 2 in zone. After the rush, there is a shot from the point and 2 v 2 battle. Winning puck races and battles is a great skill for teams to work on. This drill is an example of coaches starting drills and small area games with a puck race. Coaches can use puck races and battles to start a variety of drills.
Drill 2: 2 on 2 Transition Game
2 on 2 Transition Game is a high-tempo 2 v 2 small-area game designed to develop quick transition skills, offensive movement, and defensive awareness. The 2 offensive players are trying to score, while the 2 defenders are working to create a turnover and pass to their players on the other side of the ice. When this happens, the original forwards backcheck and are now on defense against the two new forwards, while the original defenseman rotate out of the drill. Watch Michael Peca explain this drill.
Drill 3: 2 v 2 Net Front Corner Battles with Support
2 v 2 Net Front Corner Battles with Support is a competitive 2 v 2 small area game that practices corner & net front battles. Each team of 2 has 2 point players and 1 goalie. As time went on it was fun to see the players start to utilize the boards for point passes & rims to their support players at the point. This drill is a variation of Defend Net Front Progression With 2 Point Players.
Drill 4: 2 v 2 Angle Game with Defensive Reward
2 v 2 Angle Game with Defensive Reward a great small-area game designed to help players practice angling while adding an incentive for defensive players to create turnovers. If the defensive team successfully forces a turnover before center ice, a third player from their line is activated, creating a 3-on-2 advantage. You can see this occur in the 3rd rep in the video above. Coaches could have the younger age levels focus on angling and stick on puck. For the older age levels you can encourage angling, stick on puck, and body contact. You can view this drill explained with coaching points from Michal Peca here. If you are coaching at an age level that is just starting body contact and checking, you can learn how to introduce body contact & checking here.
Drill 5: 2 v 2 Play Fast with Support
2 v 2 Play Fast with Support is a high tempo game that starts out at 2 v 2 in center ice. Each team also has 2 support players in their offensive end, located on the face off dots. These players are stationed at the dots and do not join the play but act as support players. These players can be allowed to two-touch, or one-touch a pass to their teammates in the center, or to their partner across the ice, or they can fire a shot on net. If there is a goal, the puck goes out of play, or the puck goes past the goal line, the nearest coach passes the puck to the defensive team. Watch Seth Appert explain 3 v 3 Play Fast, which is a variation of this game.
Drill 6: 3 v 3 Neutral Zone Rush Attack Game
3 v 3 Neutral Zone Rush Attack Game is a variation of the 2 v 2 angle game that was shown above but takes place in the neutral zone with 3 players so players can generate more speed when rushing the puck which is harder to defend. On the whistle 3 players take a puck behind their net to rush up ice while 3 defenders skate around their net to meet the fowards in the neutral zone. Teams can practice various angling or neutral zone concepts in this game. Similar to 2 v 2 Play Fast above, if there is a goal, the puck goes out of play, or the puck goes past the goal line, the nearest coach passes the puck to the defensive team.
NHL Development Camp Takeaways
Cheer for your teammates! It was fun to see players cheer for each other during the small area games. Even though many of these players just met and are competing for future positions within the organization, they supported each other and cheered when they saw a great play. When they went back to the line there were stick taps and fist bumps. All practice environments from youth to pros can be more fun if teammates and coaches cheer for each other. Youth coaches should encourage cheering for teammates in practice to improve the environment and to give kids in line a reason to pay attention to the game or drill. Don't just cheer for goals, cheer for big saves, great passes, good defense, etc!
Keeping Score of Small Area Games: The Buffalo Sabres coaching staff kept score in each of the small area games, which added extra competition and also promoted more excitement from their teammates in line (as shown above). At the end of each of the small area games, the coach tallied up the goals and the losing team did 1 short sprint (shown in the video below). Even though this was only the third day of the on-ice development camp, it was fun to see players supporting each other after big plays and communicating with each other after each rep. Watch a video of Kendall Coyne Schofield explaining why she enjoyed when coaches kept score during battle day practices here.
Fundamentals, habits, skills, and small area games: One of the best parts about observing an NHL development camp is that you realize many of the fundamentals, skills and small area games that NHL teams practice can be used in youth hockey settings, or they can be modified to be used in youth hockey settings. Even at the highest level of the game it is still so important for these athletes to work daily on fundamentals like skating, shooting, stickhandling and passing. They also practice their habits in each rep (like scanning, communicating, keeping their stick on the ground while defending, etc). And even though they are pros, they still have so much fun competing and playing small area games!
About NHL Development Camps
NHL Development Camps are far more than just summer practices, they’re a foundational step in shaping future NHL players and reinforcing the identity of the organization. We were only there for one on-ice practice but it was clear that the players and staff were all extremely excited to be on the ice together. Players worked hard, cheered for each other, interacted with fans, and learned from coaches. If you are not familiar with NHL Development camps, below are some additional concepts that NHL teams may utilize during the camp:
Player Development: Development Camps allow NHL teams to begin guiding their top prospects in all aspects of their off-ice growth (physical, mental, emotional, etc) and on-ice growth (skills, systems, hockey iq, etc). Players receive hands-on instruction from team coaches, trainers and staff on and off of the ice.
Learn Team Systems and Concepts: This is often a player’s first real exposure to the organization’s structure and playing philosophy. Through on-ice drills, off-ice seminars, video sessions, and meetings with staff, players are introduced to:
- Off-ice expectations like conduct, training, nutrition, recovery, etc.
- Practice habits and routines
- Team systems (forecheck, defensive zone, special teams, etc.)
Player Evaluations: While the camps aren’t about making the NHL roster today, they give teams valuable insight into:
- A player's current physical and mental readiness
- Their response to coaching and feedback
- How they fit into the team culture
- A player's progress: who may be close to earning a training camp invite and who needs more development time
This helps management make decisions about contracts, assignments, and timelines.
Building Culture & Relationships: Development Camps are essential for building both culture and relationships within an organization. For many players, it’s their first time on the ice with the team that drafted them. It’s a chance to get familiar with the organization’s values, expectations, and day-to-day environment, all while working closely with development coaches and staff. Prospects also begin forming bonds with each other and start to feel a sense of belonging within the team.
Recap
NHL Development Camps are not tryouts, they’re developmental incubators that serve multiple purposes for both the prospects and the teams. They give prospects tools, guidance, and cultural foundation they need to one day thrive as a professional athlete, while helping the organization connect with their prospects. The development camps are different than the training camps that occur in September where players compete for roster spots ahead of the regular season.
We’re thankful to the NHL and the Buffalo Sabres for making these Development Camp practices open to the public. It was a great experience for us to watch day 3 of the camp in person. Make sure to be on the lookout next year for your favorite teams development camp. It is a great way for fans, players, parents and coaches to get an inside look into how an NHL team practices. It is not only fun and entertaining, but you may learn something by attending, especially if you are a coach or player!