Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,144
Harder than you would think. You assume that while 6'4" is tall in the NHL it isn't THAT tall that you don't have a wealth of players to choose from. But they didn't roll of my tongue like I thought they would, some positions were easier than others.
Lecavalier-Lemieux-Sundin
Nash-Lindros-Getzlaf
E. Staal-Thornton-Arnott
P. Mahovlich-Linden-Holik
Andreychuk
Pronger-Blake
Robinson-Chara
Hedman-Burns
D. Hatcher-K. Hatcher
Dryden
Rinne
Burke
Yeah............no kidding. Okay, so you think to yourself, well, there weren't a lot of players before, say, the 1980s that were 6'4". In fact on this list there are only three. But from the 1990s onward there would be a ton right? After all, this is what GMs wanted! Yeah..........no. Not like there aren't some HHOFers on this list but the lack of depth is what astounds me. Lemieux and Lindros were two very injury prone players and if they go down this team is in trouble. I had to have a checking line, so that is the 4th line with Linden and Holik in there. May as well have some sound defensive guys in there as well as Pete Mahovlich who could kill penalties. You probably think this means I am leaving some offensive guys out but I'm not. When I first did this list I had Jason Arnott in the back of my head but that he is a longshot to even be an alternate yet there he is on my 3rd line. Another thing, it was not easy finding left shooting forwards.
Maybe I am missing someone, but try to find better defensemen. Again, nothing wrong with the first two pairings, but I had to find current players just to make this team up and nothing against the Hatcher brothers but I had to add them too. Honestly, I couldn't find anyone better.
Dryden, Rinne and Burke are the best goalies out there. Ben Bishop might have been the next best one.
One thing with this team is that they would be able to wear other teams down pretty badly. The defense is physical and big (of course) and so are the forwards. The big problem here is that they lack quickness. Not that they can't skate, but the likes of Lindros and Lemieux had gears and strides that made them fast. They don't have the quick shiftiness of someone like a Martin St. Louis or a Sidney Crosby. The "shiftiest" on that team is probably Lecavalier. Big players just aren't known for being quick in small spots. So the lack of foot speed would kill them but their long reach might make up for it a bit.
Lots of them can fight too. Robinson, Pronger, Lindros, Chara are all quite feared on an all-time list. Others like Thornton and Lecavalier can throw them if they have to. Throw in Derian Hatcher in that pack as well. This team would never be intimidated but they wouldn't fare well against a team with players 6'3" and under because many of them are big and tough too (Gordie Howe) and there are other elements they bring to the table.
So there you have it, there is a surprisingly small number of all-time greats who were at least 6'4". I almost added Keith Primeau.
There are only 3 players who are at least 6'4" who cracked 1,000 points out of 87.
Lecavalier-Lemieux-Sundin
Nash-Lindros-Getzlaf
E. Staal-Thornton-Arnott
P. Mahovlich-Linden-Holik
Andreychuk
Pronger-Blake
Robinson-Chara
Hedman-Burns
D. Hatcher-K. Hatcher
Dryden
Rinne
Burke
Yeah............no kidding. Okay, so you think to yourself, well, there weren't a lot of players before, say, the 1980s that were 6'4". In fact on this list there are only three. But from the 1990s onward there would be a ton right? After all, this is what GMs wanted! Yeah..........no. Not like there aren't some HHOFers on this list but the lack of depth is what astounds me. Lemieux and Lindros were two very injury prone players and if they go down this team is in trouble. I had to have a checking line, so that is the 4th line with Linden and Holik in there. May as well have some sound defensive guys in there as well as Pete Mahovlich who could kill penalties. You probably think this means I am leaving some offensive guys out but I'm not. When I first did this list I had Jason Arnott in the back of my head but that he is a longshot to even be an alternate yet there he is on my 3rd line. Another thing, it was not easy finding left shooting forwards.
Maybe I am missing someone, but try to find better defensemen. Again, nothing wrong with the first two pairings, but I had to find current players just to make this team up and nothing against the Hatcher brothers but I had to add them too. Honestly, I couldn't find anyone better.
Dryden, Rinne and Burke are the best goalies out there. Ben Bishop might have been the next best one.
One thing with this team is that they would be able to wear other teams down pretty badly. The defense is physical and big (of course) and so are the forwards. The big problem here is that they lack quickness. Not that they can't skate, but the likes of Lindros and Lemieux had gears and strides that made them fast. They don't have the quick shiftiness of someone like a Martin St. Louis or a Sidney Crosby. The "shiftiest" on that team is probably Lecavalier. Big players just aren't known for being quick in small spots. So the lack of foot speed would kill them but their long reach might make up for it a bit.
Lots of them can fight too. Robinson, Pronger, Lindros, Chara are all quite feared on an all-time list. Others like Thornton and Lecavalier can throw them if they have to. Throw in Derian Hatcher in that pack as well. This team would never be intimidated but they wouldn't fare well against a team with players 6'3" and under because many of them are big and tough too (Gordie Howe) and there are other elements they bring to the table.
So there you have it, there is a surprisingly small number of all-time greats who were at least 6'4". I almost added Keith Primeau.
There are only 3 players who are at least 6'4" who cracked 1,000 points out of 87.