Does Size Matter? – A Look At Zedno Chara and Nathan Gerbe

The National Hockey League is widely known for its physical and athletic players. These athletes come in all shapes and sizes, with some being as short as 5’5” and others towering over the rink at 6’9”. Does size matter? Let’s have a look at Zedno Chara and Nathan Gerbe.

At 5’5”, Nathan Gerbe is the shortest player to ever play in the NHL. Despite his small stature, Gerbe has managed to make a significant impact in the league. He had an impressive career at Boston College, where he won a national championship in 2008. Gerbe then went on to play for the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Gerbe is known for his speed and agility, which made him difficult for defenders to keep up with. He has also proven to be a talented scorer, racking up 30 goals and 52 assists in 394 NHL games. Although his size may have initially been viewed as a weakness, Gerbe showed that he can hold his own against much larger opponents.

On the other end of the spectrum is Zdeno Chara, who stands at an impressive 6’9”. Chara is the tallest player currently in the NHL and has had a long and successful career. He has spent the majority of his career with the Boston Bruins, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2011. Chara is a dominant force on the ice, using his height and strength to his advantage. He is known for his physicality, often delivering bone-crushing hits to opposing players. Despite his intimidating stature, Chara is also a skilled player, often contributing points to his team’s offense. He has scored 207 goals and 452 assists in his 1,608 NHL games. Chara’s height, combined with his skill and strength, make him a formidable competitor on the ice.

While size is not everything in hockey, height can be an advantage in certain aspects of the game, such as reach and visibility. Here is a list of the tallest players to ever play professional hockey:

1. Zdeno Chara – Chara stands at 6’9″ tall and is currently playing for the New York Islanders. He has played for several NHL teams, including the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals, and has won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman.
2. Hal Gill – Gill is also 6’9″ tall and played for several NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
3. Kristian Kudroc – Kudroc is 6’7″ tall and played for several NHL teams, including the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Los Angeles Kings.
4. Tyler Myers – Myers stands at 6’8″ tall and currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks. He has also played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets.
5. John Scott – Scott is 6’8″ tall and played for several NHL teams, including the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks. He is perhaps best known for his performance in the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, where he was voted in as a joke but ended up winning the game’s MVP award.

Professional hockey is a sport that typically values size and strength, so it’s not as common to see very short players on the ice. However, there have been a few players who have managed to make it to the pros despite their diminutive stature. Here are some of the shortest players to play in the NHL:

1. Nathan Gerbe – Gerbe is listed at just 5’5″ tall and played for several NHL teams including the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes.
2. Brian Gionta – Gionta is listed at 5’7″ tall and had a long and successful career in the NHL, playing for teams like the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, and Buffalo Sabres.
3. Darren Pang – Pang is listed at 5’5″ tall and played as a goaltender for several NHL teams including the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues.
4. Mats Zuccarello – Zuccarello is listed at 5’8″ tall and has played for several NHL teams including the New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild.
5. Jari Kurri – Kurri is listed at 5’9″ tall and had a long and successful career in the NHL, playing for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks.

In conclusion, the NHL has players of all sizes, from the shortest at 5’5” to the tallest at 6’9”. Nathan Gerbe and Zdeno Chara stand out as the most extreme examples of these opposing heights. Despite their drastically different sizes, both have made significant contributions to their teams over the years. Their achievements are a testament to the fact that size is just one factor that contributes to a player’s success, and it is skill, talent, and dedication that ultimately make an excellent hockey player.

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