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Let’s take a trip down memory lane: It’s the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Montreal Canadiens have shocked hockey fans everywhere. Not only have the Habs made the playoffs, but they’ve steadily progressed through each round, eliminating teams with much stronger regular-season resumes, including the North Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vegas Golden Knights, the runner-up in the competitive West Division.
How were the Habs so successful? Let’s talk about it!
One of the key players in the Habs’ underdog success story was right winger Cole Caufield. Back in 2021, 20-year-old Caufield was in his rookie season with the Habs. After a successful freshman and sophomore campaign at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he led the Big Ten Conference in goals during the 2019-20 season and won the Hobey Baker Award in 2021 for being the top player in the NCAA, he joined the Habs’ roster. He became the first American member of his NHL draft class to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Over the course of his 20-game playoff campaign, Caufield scored four goals and eight assists, and had a plus-minus of -5.
Pretty sweet, huh? Definitely a performance that would be expected from a top-10, first-round draft pick. And Caufield was a first-round pick–but he was drafted 15th overall. With incredible stats, how did he slide that far? Well, Caufield is 5’8” and is currently one of the shortest NHL players.
Which begs the question: In a showdown between the shortest and the tallest NHL players today, who would come out on top?
Short
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According to a list compiled by the New York Times and The Athletic, the shortest player currently in the NHL at 5’8" is Logan Stankoven, a center for the Carolina Hurricanes. Like Caufield, when it comes to goals, Stankonen proves that height is just a number. In his junior hockey career, he constantly led the WHL in points. In his last year in the WHL, he led the Memorial Cup in points. In 2022, he was named Player of the Year for both the WHL and the Canadian Hockey League. In his professional debut, he won the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award for being the AHL rookie of the year. In his first 12 NHL games with the Dallas Stars, he scored 10 points. After his recent trade to the Hurricanes following the trade deadline, Stankoven has become a consistent point and goal scorer.
Another notable young 5’8” standout from this list is Bobby Brink, a right winger for the Philadelphia Flyers. Before his NHL debut, Brink led the NCAA in points during the 2021-22 season. In his three NCAA seasons, he totaled 92 points and helped the University of Denver win the NCAA Championship in 2022. So far this year, during his first full NHL season, Brink has been a dynamic playmaker for the Flyers, tallying 32 points so far in 68 games played.
Also at 5’8”, Alex DeBrincat, a right winger for the Detroit Red Wings, has consistently been one of the top scorers on all the teams he’s been with during his NHL career. He has never let his lack of size slow him down. During his second NHL season, DeBrincat became the second-youngest player on the Chicago Blackhawks to score more than 40 goals in a season. His career high is currently 78 points, and so far this season, he is on track to come close to matching that, having scored 59 points in 69 games so far.
The shortest NHL teams on average are the Colorado Avalanche and the Seattle Kraken, with 12 and 13 players, respectively, on their rosters who are under 5’10”. Both teams have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs at least once in the past three years, and the Avs were the Stanley Cup Champions in 2022.
Tall
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According to the same list, Matt Rempe, a center for the New York Rangers, is the tallest player in the NHL at a towering 6’9”. Throughout the past year, his first in the NHL, Rempe has not tallied many points or goals to his name. Rather, he is known for being an instigator. In fact, he started one of the biggest fights in NHL history during a game between the Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. His size certainly makes him a menace on the ice, and someone who very few players want to mess with because of his physical advantage. Rempe isn’t afraid to get the opposing team out of his and his teammates’ way.
At 6’8”, Vancouver Canucks defenseman and alternate captain Tyler Myers has used his height to help his playing technique throughout his career. Unlike Rempe, he is not much of a physical player. However, because of his height, he has long strides that allow him to skate up and down the ice faster than his shorter opponents. Additionally, his size gives him a longer reach, which has allowed him to consistently be ranked among the top defensemen in points scored throughout his NHL career.
At 6’7” Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman and captain Victor Hedman is also known for using his size to his advantage when it comes to speed and power. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, the 2020 Conn Smythe winner, a five-time Norris Trophy finalist for best defenseman in the league, and the 2018 Norris Trophy winner, despite missing most of the season due to injury. One thing Hedman is known for is the power in his shot. In fact, he’s won the “Hardest Shot” title at the NHL All-Star Weekend three times, with his hardest slapshot reaching 103 miles per hour.
The tallest NHL team is the Boston Bruins, who have an incredible 16 players on their roster taller than 6’6”. From the 2019-20 season to the 2023-24 season, the Bruins were ranked among the top 10 teams in the league, having been first overall and winning the President’s Trophy for most wins twice. In fact, during the 2022-23 season, the Bruins set the NHL record for most wins during a season with 65.
Who has the upper hand?
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So, after discussing all of this, does height really matter when it comes to being the best in the NHL?
When it comes to scoring goals and points, shorter players have the advantage in squeezing themselves into narrow spots and maneuvering around taller players. However, when it comes to defense, reach and power, taller players have an advantage in blocking shots and reaching the puck in a shorter amount of time than their shorter counterparts. These different factors are why it’s more common to see smaller players as wingers and centers, and taller players as defensemen and goaltenders.
Though shorter players seem to slip between the cracks in the draft, it is often these players who have the greatest impact. What they lack in size, they make up for in presence by getting themselves into the middle of things and playing larger, where most taller players tend to play within their height or smaller. This is not to say that taller players do not make an impact on their teams, but rather just an observation.
Overall, size is just a number that doesn’t apply to talent. Players, big and small, both have their strengths and weaknesses on the ice. Although tall players may have the height and power, short players make up for in personality and presence.
Edited by Jenna Mandarano
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