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Consistent physicality and finishing body checks is a crucial skill and mindset for a National Hockey League career because it establishes a player as someone who will do whatever it takes to impact the game and win. This relentless style of play not only intimidates opponents but also demonstrates a commitment to defensive responsibility and team toughness, making such a player invaluable to their team's success and resilience in the highly competitive environment of the NHL.
The combination of skill, grit, and potentially intimidation are nice combinations for a successful National Hockey League career.
Defensemen standing 6’0″ or shorter face significant challenges in carving out a National League career. Given that the average NHL player stands at 6’1.5″ and weighs 207 pounds, undersized defensemen must possess exceptional attributes to compete at the highest level. Below is the list of Neutral Zone’s 6’0″ and under defensemen who are ranked in our top 300 for the 2024 NHL draft.
Below is a list of players who might not be the most glamorous players in the game but each has continued to work and develop their craft so that they could be valuable pieces to an organization.
A handful of the players listed below will hear their names called during the 2024 draft, but the vast majority of them will not. There is no doubt that some of these players you will never hear from again, nonetheless after watching these athletes throughout the past few seasons Neutral Zone feels these players should continue to be tracked.
Highest scoring forwards who are not ranked in the 1st round
In the 2023 NHL Draft, five players under 5’9″and under were selected. Below are Neutral Zone’s highest rated players who are 5’9″ and smaller.
2024 NHL Draft: Ranking the players who are 6’3″ and taller
Felix Lacerte
Quinn Kennedy
Eliot L’Italien
Benjamin Brunelle
Jan Golicic
Justin Poirier
Alexandre Blais
Adam Jiricek”
Konsta Helenius
Vincent Desjardins
Thomas Desruisseaux
Gabe Smith
Matyas Melovsky