If I had to list improvements the University of Denver hockey team made during the course of the season, defensive zone coverage and exits from that zone would rate highly.

The D core was under the spotlight coming into the season because it lost two stalwarts – all-everything All-American Joey LaLeggia and skilled wrecking ball Josiah Didier. After some first-half struggles, the blue line picked it up tremendously.

The good news for the Pioneers is they should return a healthy core of blue liners that excel in multiple facets of the game.

The bad news is they lose an every-situation stalwart in Nolan Zajac, who besides being my son’s favorite Pioneer also finished his DU career among the school’s 10 highest-scoring defensemen with 95 points.

An agile and quick skater, Zajac made his mark by showing up and playing well every night (an NCAA-best 147 games played in a row). A plus player, he also led or nearly led DU in blocked shots every season. His 20 points (as well as Nick Neville‘s one goal before he left the team in early January) mean DU loses 23 percent of its points from the back end.

Throughout the season, coach Jim Montgomery told me he knew exactly what he’d get from Zajac, junior Will Butcher and sophomore Adam Plant night in, night out. The big question was who else would step up.

It became obvious fairly early in the season that sophomore Tariq Hammond was growing into his expanded role, and by season’s end the 6-foot-2 Hammond proved to be as much of a rusher as he was a crusher, displaying excellent burst as he read when to – and not to – jump into plays. Hammond’s 10 points in 41 starts were an eight-point improvement over his freshman season, when he played just 11 games.

He was often paired with Zajac at even strength and on the power play.

Butcher and Plant frequently formed another pairing, and all Butcher did was attain second-team West Region All-American status with a career-high 32 points in 39 games, including nine goals. His point total was only two off his total for his first two DU seasons combined.

He was an every situation player, and there were games I wondered if he wasn’t on the ice much more than he was off it. He had two game-winning goals, a shortie and four more on the power play. His ability to read plays was at another level, and that no doubt played into why the Colorado Avalanche drafted him in the fifth round of the 2013 Entry Draft.

His situation bears watching, though one would think the Avs would have signed him already if they were planning to do so. If he returns for his senior season he will be in the conversation as one of the NCAA’s top players, not just the NCHC’s. If he departs over the summer, not only would the Pioneers have to replace another elite player (on the heels of forward Danton Heinen‘s signing with Boston) but the one I believe is the odds-on favorite to be their next captain. (This is purely speculation on my part, but consider how much more of a prominent role he played in dealing with the media at the NCHC and NCAA tournaments with Grant Arnold).

Butcher, the only non-senior to wear a letter for the Pioneers, took his expanded leadership role seriously, and along with Zajac played massive roles in the development of the rest of the D core.

Even though Plant’s numbers were down slightly (8 points compared to 10 as a freshman), he played key minutes late in periods and games and was reliable at even-strength and on the penalty kill. He compensates for weighing less than 165 pounds by being an elite skater and positionally sound. I would not be surprised to see him assume Zajac’s role on the power play and post similar numbers next season.

Speaking of emerging, the tag team of junior Matt VanVoorhis and freshman Blake Hillman each made his mark, and it could be argued that Hillman, who went from a small role early in the season to NCAA West Regional MVP, improved more than any other Pioneer.

The newcomer finished with 11 points, including three goals, and was taking a regular turn with the second power-play unit by season’s end. And 10 of the 11 points came from Jan. 8 on.

VanVoorhis bounced back from an up-and-down sophomore season to post career highs in goals (3 – the first ones in his DU career), points (11) and plus-minus (plus-11). As with the rest of his blue-line comrades, he was adept at getting involved in the offensive zone and possesses one of the harder shots on team. At 5-7 and possessing a thick build, he hit with leverage and regularity.

The Pioneers had two other options on defense – redshirt sophomore Brad Hawkinson and freshman Sean Mostrom.

Hawkinson was limited to three games because of injuries. Once healthy, the Pioneers were on such a roll that it was difficult for him to break into the lineup. Mostrom, at 6-2 and nearly 200 pounds, will add more size to the lineup.

In addition, the Pioneers have two blue liners signed to National Letters of Intent – Michael Davies, who has helped Waterloo into the USHL semifinals, and 6-foot-5 Erich Fear, who anchored the back end for the NAHL’s Springfield Jr. Blues. More on them in a future post.

The foundation is in place for DU to have an excellent blue next season. If Butcher does sign with the Avalanche it makes the task far tougher, but the talent is in place for it to be a strength regardless.