Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty81
I think that kind of blueprint is outdated anyway. Puck possession matters but size and physicality are just nice to have. If a player can protect the puck and do good things with it, it doesn't matter if he's 5'6" or 6'6" with fighting disappearing.
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5'6 players can rarely protect the puck vs 6'4 210+ lb defence men. Small players get physically dominated by large players. And that has zero to do with fighting. Gaudreau survives by being arguably one of the most elusive players in the league. But a bigger, strong team is going to be harder to check, harder to shut down, harder to push out of the game, etc. And a bigger, stronger team is going to find it easier to check the opposition, shove them down, physically dominate them.
Size does matter in the NHL. Size matters along the boards. Size matters in front of the net. These things did not disappear when fighting mostly left the game. Watch what Shea Weber does to small forwards. Watch how Lucic cannot be easily physically contained. Size does matter.