I actually looked into the number of small forwards and defence(equal or less than 5'10") in the league in 2003/04 vs 2017/18 and I found the numbers weren't that different.
03/04- Forwards who scored 10+ points- 50
17-18- 48
03/04- Defence that scored 10+ points- 8
17-18- 12
Flat for forwards. Slight uptick for D-men, but the amount of smaller defencemen in 2010/2011 was the same at 12.
I mean everyone is talking about the game being friendlier to smaller players now, but it seems its just that. Talk.
I think the number of small players getting drafted higher has probably changed substantially, but after draft day I think the league has been pretty fair for quite a long time.
If you can play you will make it.
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