There's a lot of small junior guys that put up huge numbers. People love to trot out names like Fleury and St. Louis but those are the exceptions, not the rule. Small players have a lot of obstacles to overcome to make the NHL. To be successful they need to be more skilled, determined, fast, strong, etc than players 5 inches bigger than them or they will be shut down quite easily or become physically initimdated by the league as they get pounded, knocked down and abused by 6'5 defensemen all day.
And it's not like teams are unwilling to select small guys early as evidenced by Jeff Tambellini, P.M. Bouchard, Chistov, etc. If the player has elite skills and skating then he's probably worth taking a chance on.
But I'd say overall that size isn't overemphasized, it definitely should be a factor. The smaller or thinner players on the Flames like Kobasew and Saprykin who haven't filled out very well to this point are much more easily knocked off the puck. They aren't as effective and will never be unless they can add more core strength. And when I'm talking about size, it's not just about height. As one player mentioned smaller guys who are extremely strong for their size do not have as many problems adapting. Andrew Ference is a good example from a Flames perspective. The kid is only 5'10 and plays defense but at around 200 lbs he holds his own ground very well and can knock bigger players off the puck.
Those who think size doesn't matter at all are idealists IMO. One only has to look at a guy like Todd Bertuzzi and how hard he is to shut down to see how much of a difference size can make. A 5'11 Todd Bertuzzi would not be nearly as effective. Bigger forwards are harder to contain and shut down. Bigger defensemen make it easier to contain and shut down forwards. Bigger goalies take up more of the net. It's a positive attribute.
And it's not like teams are unwilling to select small guys early as evidenced by Jeff Tambellini, P.M. Bouchard, Chistov, etc. If the player has elite skills and skating then he's probably worth taking a chance on.
But I'd say overall that size isn't overemphasized, it definitely should be a factor. The smaller or thinner players on the Flames like Kobasew and Saprykin who haven't filled out very well to this point are much more easily knocked off the puck. They aren't as effective and will never be unless they can add more core strength. And when I'm talking about size, it's not just about height. As one player mentioned smaller guys who are extremely strong for their size do not have as many problems adapting. Andrew Ference is a good example from a Flames perspective. The kid is only 5'10 and plays defense but at around 200 lbs he holds his own ground very well and can knock bigger players off the puck.
Those who think size doesn't matter at all are idealists IMO. One only has to look at a guy like Todd Bertuzzi and how hard he is to shut down to see how much of a difference size can make. A 5'11 Todd Bertuzzi would not be nearly as effective. Bigger forwards are harder to contain and shut down. Bigger defensemen make it easier to contain and shut down forwards. Bigger goalies take up more of the net. It's a positive attribute.
The thing is, teams can hope that a player who can't skate, stickhandle or shoot would improve those skills. There is not a whole lot of growing that somebody can do. It is not like the teams do not draft small players, it is just that usually other assets that a player has are not enough to propel him into top rounds.
While Pittsburgh has a prospect in Anshakov who is supposed to be really fast, and he's 6'3" 180. I love players who can skate, regardless of size, although I have a soft spot for little players, being only 5'7" myself. I think a lot of little guys in the NHL are fast because they usually need that edge if they are going against guys 30+ pounds heavier.
