The Average Height of NHL Hockey Players (2024)
Have you ever wondered just how tall NHL players are? To get to the bottom of this, we’ve rolled up our sleeves and dug through the rosters of every NHL team. That’s right, nearly 800 players’ heights were put under our microscope.
This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about understanding what these heights mean in the fast-paced sport of hockey. So, lace up your skates, and let’s dive into the sizes of NHL players and their towering presence on the ice.
NHL Players’ Average Height
The average height of an NHL Player in 2024 is 6’1 1/2″.
However, averages don’t often tell the whole story. I wanted to take a closer look.
So, in an effort to give you an even better idea of how NHL hockey players stack up, I tallied up how many players are at each specific height – from 5’11” all the way to 6’8″.
Hockey Height Scale
| Height | Number of Players |
|---|---|
| 5’8″ | 10 |
| 5’9″ | 19 |
| 5’10” | 39 |
| 5’11” | 69 |
| 6’0″ | 126 |
| 6’1″ | 140 |
| 6’2″ | 148 |
| 6’3″ | 114 |
| 6’4″ | 68 |
| 6’5″ | 36 |
| 6’6″ | 20 |
| 6’7″ | 6 |
| 6’8″ | 1 |
When you group the heights together like this, a couple of things really stick out.
First, the average height of 6’1 1/2″ is an excellent representation of the overall height of hockey players. The two most common heights in the league are 6’1″ and 6’2″, with a fairly even drop off as you move further away from those two heights.
The second is that while there is a rather large range of heights overall, from 5’8″ to 6’8″, the large majority of players cluster within a much smaller range of 6’0″ to 6’3″. In fact, exactly two-thirds of all players fall into this smaller 4-inch window.
Which NHL Players are the Tallest?
Curious to know who the 7 guys are at the bottom of the table above? The ones standing 6’7″ or taller?
Spoiler Alert: Six out of the seven are defensemen along with a crazy tall goalie.
| Player Name | Height | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Myers | 6’8″ | D |
| Victor Hedman | 6’7″ | D |
| Jani Hakanpää | 6’7″ | D |
| Logan Stanley | 6’7″ | D |
| Vincent Desharnais | 6’7″ | D |
| Jamie Oleksiak | 6’7″ | D |
| Mads Sogaard | 6’7″ | G |
Which NHL Players are the Shortest?
Just as interesting (or maybe even more so) as which guys are the tallest is which guys are actually the shortest.
The 10 shortest players in the NHL are all 5’8″.
| Player Name | Height | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Johnson | 5’8″ | C |
| Conor Sheary | 5’8″ | LW |
| Justin Danforth | 5’8″ | RW |
| Cam Atkinson | 5’8″ | RW |
| Bobby Brink | 5’8″ | RW |
| Matthew Phillips | 5’8″ | RW |
| Alex DeBrincat | 5’8″ | RW |
| Cole Caufield | 5’8″ | RW |
| Mats Zuccarello | 5’8″ | RW |
| Kailer Yamamoto | 5’8″ | RW |
Conclusion
As our journey through the heights of NHL players comes to a close, it’s clear that size plays a significant role in professional hockey. Our deep dive into the heights of nearly 800 NHL players revealed a blend of towering defensemen and agile forwards, each bringing their unique physical attributes to the game.
Whether it’s the towering presence of defensemen like Victor Hedman or the swift agility of forwards like Mats Zuccarello, the NHL showcases a diverse array of athletes. This mix of height and skill underscores the dynamic nature of hockey, where physicality meets strategy, and every inch can make a difference.
Remember, it’s not just about how tall you stand, but how you use your size in the rink. So, whether you’re a fan, a player, or just curious about the game, keep your eyes on the ice – the heights might just surprise you.
