LAS VEGAS | Many were outraged to see Justin Poirier having to wait until the fifth round before being claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes, but objectively, it must be recognized: the National Hockey League, although it has evolved, remains a league of big players.
You may agree or disagree, but it is a vision shared by the vast majority of NHL teams.
On Monday, the player agent working for Pat Brisson’s CAA firm, Dominic Ricard, presented some interesting figures about the last NHL draft, which concluded Saturday in Las Vegas.
- 38% of selected players are 6’3″ or taller.
- 1.3% of selected players are 5’10” and under.
- No player 5-foot-10 or shorter was selected in the top 100.
It couldn’t be clearer.
L’exemple des Panthers
When you look at it objectively, it’s hard not to understand this trend of drafting “big.” The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup with a team that had only one player under 6 feet (Evan Rodrigues at 5’11”).
They literally intimidated some teams along the way with their abrasive style and, in the end, they lifted the big trophy. In 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights also won with a defensive brigade averaging 6’3″ and 212 lbs.
Yes, they had Jonathan Marchessault who, at 5’9″, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
But players of his size have a lower success rate. That’s a fact. Why? Because, often, they absolutely must occupy an offensive role otherwise their effectiveness greatly diminishes.
An NHL scout once told me this, and it wasn’t the first time I’d heard it: A small player has to prove he can play in the NHL, while a big player has to prove he can’t.
That’s what awaits Justin Poirier. Because he’s 5’7″, he’ll have to prove throughout his life that he can overcome that physical disadvantage. He’ll have to prove that he can play an offensive role in the NHL. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if he has to wait five, six or seven years before getting his first chance.
Meanwhile, players with more advantageous genetic makeup by NHL standards will get nine lives even if they have individual skills that don’t even come close to Poirier’s.
We can agree or disagree, but that’s how it is.
The case of Zeev Buium
One of the most striking examples in Las Vegas was that of Zeev Buium.
The University of Denver Pioneers defender destroyed the NCAA last season offensively and many expected him to be a top-10 pick in Las Vegas.
Finally, it slipped to 12e rank, with the Minnesota Wild.
In an interview after the draft, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere, whose scouts preferred center Jett Luchanko to Buium with the No. 11e choice, justified this selection by speaking of Buium’s size.
“I think Zeev Buium will be a great player and we’ve considered him highly. But with Cam York, Jamie Drysdale and Emil Andrae, at a certain point it becomes difficult to go with the little guy even though he’s a fantastic player.”
Zeev Buium is 6 feet tall and weighs 185 lbs. That’s considered a small player.
Another example: Finnish defenseman Aron Kiviharju, who was considered a top-five player in his draft class a year ago. However, major injuries and his 5-foot-10 stature caused him to slide to the fourth round.
Has hockey changed? Yes.
Is there more room for smaller players? Yes, but not in the first three rounds of the draft.
