Why Is This The Most Successful "Body Type" In The NHL?

[GodEmperor]

Basically, it's relatively long limbs, a very wide waist and narrow clavicles.

What is it about this body type that is so much better than average-long limbs, narrow waist and wide clavicles or even more Herculean proportions with a wide waist but wide clavicles that makes players successful? Or is this just more so recency bias and Mario, Wayne and Orr were different in their proportions?

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[Passchendaele]

Stamina is way more important than bulging muscles, unless you're a goon, but these are virtually out of the league nowadays.

That's also why NHL players look unimpressive when compared to NBA or NFL players.

 

[rynryn]

i'm going to regret it but i googled "nick lidstrom shirtless"

I'd say that. he was a machine out there. hockey robot.

 

[KCC]

It’s more about stamina and lower body strength isn’t it?

 

[Shaffer]

Kessel has the ideal body type.

 

[983 others]

Big butt like Crosby.

 

[izzy]

harder to knock over

 

[Rygu]

It’s more about stamina and lower body strength isn’t it?

I think this is the correct answer. Crosby probably doesn't have much more than average upper body strength, but from the waist down he's a bloody tank.

Also too much muscle = less stamina. Ovechkin doesn't look ripped but he's still 230+ with absurd core strength.

 

[SmellOfVictory]

If this claim is accurate, I can throw out some supposition limb-wise and hip-wise:

Long limbs are an asset in many sports, and this would include hockey. Better reach allows you to defend/protect the puck better, and I would assume helps you get more power in shots and passes.

Wider hips presumably widen the base a little bit, which would improve balance and maaaaaaaaybe help build larger glutes for skating power?

edit: Also for god's sake, read the entire OP, people. It has nothing to do with the amount of muscle you're seeing in those pics (which, by the way, is still quite a bit of muscle).

 

[BorntoLose]

well i guess a stockier build with long limbs would be best harder to knock off of the puck compared to a lanky person, lower half is probably most important when looking at best players

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

Whats with all the threads and posts about NHL player body types today?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Majority of hockey players have massive legs and butt and have hideous upper bodies with little muscletone. They dont want their upper bodies bulky and muscular.

Its bizzare to say but many many hockey players are pretty unimpressive looking with no shirts on.

Alot of them have the "oldman" or "skinnyfat" bodies... Thin arms with little muscletone and a bit of a gut

I remember a couple years ago seeing Shea Theodore... His upper body looks like Mr Burns from The Simpsons but his legs are massive muscular tree trunks

 

[Pez68]

Because lower body and core strength is more important than anything. It's more advantageous to be bottom heavy, as well.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

*insert sexy music here*

 

[Mr. Met]

Please explain narrow clavicles because that makes no sense

 

[MaxV]

Muscle bulk just slows players down.

Lower body muscle is very important.

 

[Brent Burns]

Also, y'all don't realize you need to accumulate a good amount of fat in the offseason. These guys play 82 games/season PLUS weight room PLUS morning practices PLUS preseason PLUS postseason.

 

[MaxV]

They do far more agility training then weights.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Whats with all the threads and posts about NHL player body types today?

How else do you celebrate Good Friday?

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

 

[boredmale]

 

[IPS]

if they don't have huge ass chest, delts and arms it means they're not athletic.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Leaving your upper body relatively "untrained" compared to your core and lower body leaves less total muscle to gas out from, meaning if you skip building the less necessary muscles; you'll have more endurance to use the important ones.

Also a HUGE part about looking jacked is about having low fat percentage; which isn't super important in hockey since a wee bit of extra fat makes u heavier and is a slight advantage on the ice.

People often mistake having lower fat for having more muscle