How Tall are NHL Players?
Contents
- How NHL players measure up
- The average height of an NHL player
- The tallest NHL player ever
- The Shortest NHL Player ever
- How height affects performance in the NHL
- The tallest player in each NHL position
- The shortest player in each NHL position
- How player height has changed over time
- The tallest active NHL player
- The shortest active NHL player
A look at the average height of NHL players and how it has changed over the years.
How NHL players measure up
NHL Players are a notoriously tough bunch, but just how big and strong are they?
The average NHL player is about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. But that’s just an average. There are players who are much taller and heavier – and some who are shorter and lighter.
Here’s a look at some of the tallest and heaviest NHL players along with some of the shortest and lightest:
Tallest NHL players
Zdeno Chara – 6’9”
Tyler Myers – 6’8”
Boris Valabik – 6’7”
Heaviest NHL players
Dustin Byfuglien – 260 pounds
Bobby Orr – 248 pounds
Zdeno Chara – 250 pounds
Shortest NHL player Stéphane Matteau – 5’8” (tied with several other players)
Lightest NHL player Nathan Gerbe – 5’5″, 178 lbs
The average height of an NHL player
NHL players are some of the biggest and strongest athletes in the world. But how tall are they on average?
The average height of an NHL player is 6’1”. This is taller than the average height for men in the United States which is 5’9”.
There are some players who are much taller than the average, though. The tallest player in NHL history was Zdeno Chara who is 7’0”. The shortest player ever was Roy Worters, who was just 5’3”.
So if you’re looking to join the NHL, you might need to be a little taller than average!
The tallest NHL player ever
The tallest player ever in the National Hockey League was defenseman Zdeno Chara who stood at an impressive 6 feet 9 inches tall. Chara played for the Boston Bruins from 2006 to present day, and during his time with the team, he helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2011. He is also a six-time NHL All-Star
The Shortest NHL Player ever
The shortest NHL Player ever is defenseman Lloyd Bukta, who played for the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates He was just five feet tall and weighed 140 pounds.
How height affects performance in the NHL
There is no one answer to this question. Different players perform at different levels regardless of their height. However, there are some general trends that can be observed in how taller or shorter players tend to perform in the NHL.
Generally speaking, taller players tend to have an advantage over shorter players because they have a longer reach and can cover more ground. They also tend to be more physical and can use their size to their advantage in puck battles and in front of the net. However, taller players often have trouble with agility and speed, which can be drawbacks in a fast-paced sport like hockey.
Shorter players often have an advantage over taller players because they are more agile and faster. They also often have better vision because they are closer to the ice. However, shorter players can have trouble with reach and strength, which can be disadvantages when competing against taller opponents.
The tallest player in each NHL position
In the National Hockey League there is a wide range of player heights. The tallest player in the league is Zdeno Chara, who stands at 6’9”. However, there are also a Number of players who are under 6 feet tall. The following is a list of the tallest player in each position:
Goalie: Zdeno Chara (6’9”)
Defenseman: Zdeno Chara (6’9”)
Forward: Dustin Byfuglien (6’5”)
The shortest player in each NHL position
The average NHL player is about 6 feet tall, but there is a wide range of heights among players. The shortest player in each position is listed below.
Goalie: Roberto Luongo – 5’3”
Defenseman: Andrew Ference – 5’10”
Forward: Martin St. Louis – 5’8”
How player height has changed over time
The height of NHL players has changed dramatically over the years. The average player is now taller than they were even a few decades ago.
In the 1970s, the average NHL player was just under 6 feet tall. Today, the average player is 6 feet 2 inches tall. The change is even more pronounce when looking at specific positions. For example, the average defenseman was 6 feet 1 inch tall in the 1970s. Today, the average defenseman is 6 feet 4 inches tall.
There are a number of reasons for this change. First, the game has become faster and more physical over time. Taller players are better able to keep up with the pace of the game and win puck battles along the boards. Second, many of today’s players come from countries where hockey is not the only sport played. As a result, they are often taller and more athletic than their predecessors.
What does this mean for the future of the NHL? It’s hard to say for sure. But one thing is certain: The players in tomorrow’s NHL will be even bigger and faster than today’s players.
The tallest active NHL player
The tallest active NHL player is Zdeno Chara, who is 6 feet 9 inches tall. Chara has played for the Boston Bruins since 2006 and is currently the captain of the team. The second tallest player in the NHL is Tyler Myers, who is 6 feet 8 inches tall.
The shortest active NHL player
The shortest active NHL Player is Nate Thompson a center for the Philadelphia Flyers, who is five feet nine inches tall.