Smallest line in NHL history?

[tarheelhockey]

Average height was probably quite lower than what we have nowadays though…. So they were not as small as they would be today with these numbers….

Indeed, over time NHL player height has tracked with overall population height. Relative to the average, they were the same size 100 years ago that they are today.

 

[shtorm2005]

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Nope, that's more than one line.

 

[SUX2BU]

There's "NHL history" and there's "the modern era". Which are you asking about?

the title says it all :

Smallest line in NHL history?​

 

[tarheelhockey]

the title says it all :

Smallest line in NHL history?​

Yes, but the OP then went on to specifically ask about the modern era. That’s why I asked.

There have definitely been smaller lines in all of NHL history, but in the modern era it’s a tougher question.

 

[Hanji]

It's weird to think so many all-time greats we idealize as hockey giants were actually very short.

Taylor 5-8
Morenz 5-9
Lalonde 5-9
Adams 5-9
Clancy 5-7
Hull 5-10
Mikita 5-9
M Richard 5-10
Clarke 5-10
H Richard 5-7
Lindsay 5-8
Moore 5-10
Blake 5-10
Bentley 5-9
Geoffrion 5-9
Pilote 5-10
Kharlamov 5-8
Mikhailov 5-10

 

[Canovin]

Gaudreau-Bedard-Nyquist

 

[LemonSauceD]

That's my point. Dude was listed at 5'8 as a 20 year old in junior (and even that's on the high side). People don't grow 2+ inches after 20.

If I had to bet he's anywhere from 5'6-5'8.

I'm 5'9.75 and was listed at 5'11 when I played.

You can most certainly grow 2+ inches after 20. I went from 5’11 at 18 to 6’3.25 by 22.

Though it’s evident Garland is a lot shorter than what he’s listed. He’s about 5’7.

I’ve also noticed that there are some height discrepancies regarding players who are listed much shorter than they are.

Pettersson is listed at 6’2 but seeing him in person, he’s around 6’3.50.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

You can most certainly grow 2+ inches after 20. I went from 5’11 at 18 to 6’3.25 by 22. Granted, I was 5’11 from 15 and hadn’t really grown for 3 years before that final spurt.

Though it’s evident Garland is a lot shorter than what he’s listed. He’s about 5’7

How much of that growth happened from 18-20?

 

[SI90]

That pass from Hoglander to Dries was ridiculous and that Shot by Dries was filthy.

 

[LemonSauceD]

How much of that growth happened from 18-20?

At least after 19.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's weird to think so many all-time greats we idealize as hockey giants were actually very short.

Taylor 5-8
Morenz 5-9
Lalonde 5-9
Adams 5-9
Clancy 5-7
Hull 5-10
Mikita 5-9
M Richard 5-10
Clarke 5-10
H Richard 5-7
Lindsay 5-8
Moore 5-10
Blake 5-10
Bentley 5-9
Geoffrion 5-9
Pilote 5-10
Kharlamov 5-8
Mikhailov 5-10

Again though, the average Canadian has grown by 3 inches over the past century.

If you adjust the heights on that list accordingly, they are the same size you would expect from current NHL forwards.

 

[Ezekial]

That's my point. Dude was listed at 5'8 as a 20 year old in junior (and even that's on the high side). People don't grow 2+ inches after 20.

If I had to bet he's anywhere from 5'6-5'8.

I'm 5'9.75 and was listed at 5'11 when I played.

I did. I was 5'2" at 19 and 5'7.5" now

 

[Stickpucker]

It’s not hard at all. Just look at the box scores.

Opening night 1920, top lines:

Montreal
Berlinguette (5’11”) - Lalonde (5’9”) - Pitre (5’11”)

Hamilton
McDonald (5’7”) - Prodgers (5’10”) - Carey (5’6”)

Ottawa
Cy Denneny (5’7”) - Boucher (5’9”) - Darragh (5’10”)

Toronto
Noble (5’8”) - Wilson (5’8”) - Corb Denneny (5’8”)

wow they were even smurfs back then!

 

[Sweetpotato]

It's too bad Gerbe wasn't still with Columbus so you could have him centering Gaudreau. They would make a run for that.

Lol can you imagine watching their little itty bitty legs move that fast teehee

 

[PunchImlach is Alive]

Nope, that's more than one line.

Technically, it was one small line cut into two smaller lines.

 

[UncleOscar]

It's too bad Gerbe wasn't still with Columbus so you could have him centering Gaudreau. They would make a run for that.

Not NHL but this reminded me because both Gerbe and Gaudreau were Boston College guys. BC had a stretch where it seemed like all of their forwards were between 5'4 and 5'9.

 

[Stephen]

Garland is 5’10??? I don’t know if he just has unique proportions or something but he looks like Nathan Gerbe. I’m 5’9 and look quite a bit taller than he does lol

Maybe they meant with skates on.

 

[Chet Manley]

The smallest line talk should probably be determined by their mass.

 

[PaulD]

Lindros , LeClair , Renberg vs Gionta, Gomez, Camerelli

 

[FerrisRox]

Average height was probably quite lower than what we have nowadays though…. So they were not as small as they would be today with these numbers….

Actually, they were exactly as small, right down to the inch, as they would be today.

 

[mitchmagic]

Gomez Gionta Cammalleri

Tiny tiny tiny.

 

[fcpremix88]

I love how people come in here with their height and apparently know it within a quarter of an inch.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Lol can you imagine watching their little itty bitty legs move that fast teehee

Gerbe may have been short but "itty bitty legs" is not an accurate description for him. He had turbodiesel torque monster legs.