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. They must be ultra-competitive, highly skilled, and efficient skaters with the ability to process the game more quickly than their larger counterparts. These players need to leverage their agility, speed, and hockey IQ to overcome their physical disadvantages, making precise positioning, quick decision-making, and superior puck-handling or more importantly puck-movement skills essential to their success. Despite the inherent difficulties, many undersized defensemen have found success by excelling in these areas, proving that while size is an advantage, skill and tenacity can bridge the gap and lead to impactful NHL careers.
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.
Please click on a player to read that player’s past reports and his comparable players;
Zeev Buium (D, L, 6’0″, 183, Denver University, 12/07/2005, Denver)
Zayne Parekh (D, R, 6’0″, 181, Saginaw Spirit, 02/15/2006)
Aron Kiviharju (D, L, 5’10”, 172, TPS, 01/25/2006)
Veeti Vaisanen (D, L, 6’0″, 165, KooKoo, 02/15/2006)
Emil Stadin (D, L, 5’11”, 165, Frolunda HC J20, 05/05/2006)
Cole Hutson (D, L, 5’10”, 165, NTDP U18, 06/28/2006, Boston University)
Henry Mews (D, R, 6’0″, 181, Ottawa 67s, 03/09/2006)
Leo Sahlin Wallenius (D, L, 6’0″, 176, Vaxjo HC J20, 04/10/2006)
Jakub Fibigr (D, L, 6’0″, 171, Mississauga Steelheads, 07/22/2006)
Leon Muggli (D, L, 6’0″, 165, EV Zug, 07/09/2006)
Tomas Galvas (D, L, 5’10”, 141, HC Olomouc, 02/11/2006)
Anton Olsson (D, L, 5’11”, 192, Mora IK J20, 01/11/2006)
Daniel Nieminen (D, R, 5’11”, 177, Pelicans U20, 03/01/2006)
Bruno Jalasti (D, R, 6’0″, 175, Quebec Remparts, 03/24/2006)
Marek Chaloupka (D, L, 6’0″, 188, HC Vitkovice U20, 02/06/2006)
Mitja Jokinen (D, L, 5’10”, 163, TPS, 03/01/2006)
Eric Burger (D, L, 5’11”, 176, Orebro HK J20, 12/29/2005)
Noel Fransen (D, L, 6’0″, 179, Farjestad BK J20, 12/07/2005)
Daniil Ustinkov (D, L, 6’0″, 198, ZSC, 08/26/2006)
Frankie Marrelli (D, L, 5’11”, 187, Ottawa 67s, 02/16/2006)
Vincent Glos (D, L, 6’0″, 166, HC Vitkovice U20, 08/14/2006)
Xavier Veilleux (D, L, 6’0″, 190, Muskegon Lumberjacks, 03/26/2006, Harvard)
Wilhelm Hallquisth (D, R, 5’11”, 177, HV71, 03/02/2005)
Veikka Mononen (D, L, 6’0″, 185, KalPa, 04/30/2006)
Joona Vaisanen (D, R, 6’0″, 174, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 07/29/2004, Western Michigan)
Seamus Powell (D, L, 6’0″, 182, Dubuque Fighting Saints, 04/26/2004, Merrimack)
Adam Hlinsky (D, L, 5’11”, 185, BK Mlada Boleslav U20, 05/29/2006)
Anthony Cristoforo (D, R, 5’11”, 191, Windsor Spitfires, 02/23/2006)
Bogdan Lebedev (D, L, 5’11”, 170, Loko Yaroslavl MHL, 02/16/2006)
Adam Belusko (D, L, 5’11”, 195, HC Kosice U18, 04/12/2006)
Vincent Borgesi (D, R, 5’8″, 173, Northeastern University, 03/02/2004, Northeastern)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images