In recent years, the hockey played in the NHL has become faster and less physical. Gone are the days of big oxen hooking players up faster. Today, more smaller players are playing in the NHL, which opens the door to a more exciting style of play.
While not too long ago it was impossible to think that a smaller defenseman might have a career in the NHL, now there are several. Last year, nine backs 5’10 or under played at least one game and they were also 46 measuring 5’11.
Despite their small size, defenders like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Torey Krug, Adam Fox or Jared Spurgeon are dominant.
But it seems that several teams have not yet upgraded their thinking.
As mentioned in this excellent article by Benjamin Gehrels of Dobber Hockey, the smallest defensemen with big offensive potential are often overlooked.
The Journey: Market Myths & Inefficiencies (Seider, Hronek, Tourigny, Hutson, Fensore) https://t.co/ly7gXeG5nI pic.twitter.com/yAqaPcpfc5
— Dobber (@DobberHockey) September 10, 2022
Indeed, despite the previously mentioned high quality of short defensemen, only three defensemen 5’10 or under have been drafted in the first round since 1990.
Since 1990, of all the smaller dmen drafted, only Ryan Ellis, Erik Brannstrom and Quinn Hughes were drafted in the 1st round. Only Hughes went in the top 10.
— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) August 16, 2022
This explains why many slip in the repechage. For example, Spurgeon was drafted in the sixth round and Fox in the third. It also happens that some defenders, like Krug, are not even drafted because of their size.
For Gehrels, Lane Hutson and Miguël Tourigny, who were respectively selected 62nd and 216th by the CH this year, therefore represent very interesting cases. Despite being 5’9 (Hutson) and 5’8 (Tourigny), these two players might prove to be very interesting bets for CH.
As for Hutson, whose selection has been praised since the announcement, he would even have an excellent chance of breaking into the NHL according to Byron Bader. According to a statistical model that the latter has developed, the American would have a 60% chance of becoming a star in the NHL and a 77% chance of having a regular career there. Then fortunately, it should also grow a little more in the next few years.
You can check out these projections in Gehrels’ article.
For Tourigny, his offensive qualities are undeniable. However, his defensive and physical play makes him a player with an uncertain future.
Miguël Tourigny, drafted 216th by the Montréal Canadiens, is a mobile, offensively-eager defenseman with high-end skills.
The new #Habs prospect accumulated 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points in 65 games this season in the QMJHL. pic.twitter.com/8OOPjHcqfu
— Andy Lehoux (@Andylehoux1) July 8, 2022
But for a player chosen in the seventh round, the native of Victoriaville represents an interesting bet. The odds are obviously stacked once morest him, but if he breaks through the pro ranks, he has qualities that might make him a player capable of assisting on the power play.
In short, there is no guarantee that Tourigny and Hutson will break through in the NHL, but their smaller size meant that they slipped in the draft and the CH wanted to take advantage of it. Since Christopher Boucher, the director of the advanced statistics analysis department, seems to have an important role, this is hardly surprising.
A lot of
– Without surprise.
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