How Much Does Size Matter In NHL Hockey?

As a coach, I don't care how big you are, I care how big you play. But it's easier to play big if you are big.

Marty st. Louis got me into this sport

as a kings fan, i always looked at the difference between Blake Lizotte and PLD. Lizotte is listed at 5’9 although he looks way smaller (i’d say like 5’7). Lizzo is an absolute hound, constantly forchecking, back checking, stick checking, body checking. whereas PLD just looks lazy out there and doesn’t have a care in the world. i always thought that if PLD had Lizzo’s mentality, he would be an absolute superstar. but there’s a reason Lizotte is built like this, because he had to be.

For their wifes it does

Im really sad no one mentions Nathan grebe he was so underrated for a little guy dude he had hands and grit at freaking 5,4!

Brad Marchand, Martin St Louis, Theoren Fleury, Nathan Gerbe, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, Cole Caufield, Artemi Panarin, Kirill Kaprizov, etc... I'm sure Im forgetting some players but there are tons of high scoring NHLers who have proven that you can get by in the Show being under 6'

Can you do a tallest and smallest teams video?

I’m a 6’2” goalie 🎉 I grew up late, growing from 5’8” to 6’2” in close to a year, and really noticed the benefits when i reached my full size.

Size makes it way easier for a player, a smaller person is gonna have to work much harder, but can still succeed in this league.

Once I did a calculation of how many players in the top 100 scorers of all time (and playoff scorers) were at or below current NHL average (6'0, 200lbs). 46% of all time point scorers were below that (including critically, Gretzky) and 43% of all time playoff scorers. So sure, having some size benefits players, but clearly its infinitely more about HOW you play vs how tall you are.

In that clip of Saros you can actually see him set his left skate in anticipation of pushing off to his right…. man, I really appreciate your vids thanks!🎉

Size make a huge difference in playoffs... a lot of those undersized players get wrecked during the playoffs

I am lacking words to tell you how good that video is. Now days 90% of videos and article are lacking relevant information and correlation between statements. What you just did is captivating, informative and is applicable to the past and future of hockey. Thank you very much for that! PS: there is one thing I will say about the part where you talk about McDavid's speed and how other players can match his speed. I truly don't believe anyone can match his speed with the puck. Without it you are correct, but no player skates like him with the puck.

Truly the best hockey videos on YT. Well done. Every time

Had to pause the video just to admire John MacLean in that red and green Devils sweater with the red bucket. Art.

There are small players that play big and big players that play small. Comparatively small 6’0” Demitri Kulikov plowed 6’8” Matt Rempe like s pile of snow, while Ryan Lomberg, who no matter what metrics say cannot be taller than 5’8” because im taller than him, never gets pushed around.

Love how you showed Makars poke check against McDavid in the playoffs. Him and Towes put on a masterclass against McDavid and Drai in the playoffs. It’s a thing of beauty

This is one of the more fascinating aspects of the game to me. It seems like a mix of size vs speed is always best. As a Devils fan, we used to be known as a VERY physical team back in the day. The new focus on speed and skill got us Jack and Luke, Bratt, Hischier, but that was a clear problem last year when teams made a point of physically steamrolling us. Fitzgerald went and got McDermid ... because he had to, and then there was a clear focus on getting bigger and more physical players this offseason. I hope the balance is right now.

love this style of video so much. hope to see more of it even during the season

Zedno's height mattered little except for one thing: his stick, he had massive reach.