Clutch and Grab

Clutch and Grab is a brand of defensive hockey where teams hold and hook opponents to prevent goals and stifle the other team’s offensive play. Many fans feel this brand of hockey is boring and detrimental to the entertainment value of the game.

This brand of hockey was rampant in the 1990s and early 2000s as teams found success with more and more defensive tactics.

The 1998-1999 Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Stars are most notably remembered for succesfully employing this style of game under the direction of coach Ken Hitchock.

In 2005, the National Hockey League — NHL took critical steps to eliminate this from the game. It instructed officials to tighten up their standards and call penalties, especially fouls on the puck carrier, that were once considered good defensive plays.