- Jul 25, 2007
- 4,461
- 5,405
There's obviously a heated debate here on whether size matters. I think it does (D zone) and doesn't (o zone). Specifically because he is a defender. Watching last night's game, Hutson is a wizard on the puck and had an incredible possession game, finding threats with Macklin and his own play. I was super impressed.
He also got manhandled on rushes the other way and took two penalties exactly because he was too small to maintain body position while defending... Against bigger college kids.
He could definitely be an NHL defender and he could score 65 points. He could also be a major liability in his own zone and that could hurt the team significantly, especially in the playoffs.
Yes, Quinn Hughes, etc... These are exceptions, not the rule. There are also many more examples of skilled small defensemen who are not Quinn Hughes and who aren't able to hold their own on a top or middle pair on a cup contending team. Girard is even one of these examples.
He also got manhandled on rushes the other way and took two penalties exactly because he was too small to maintain body position while defending... Against bigger college kids.
He could definitely be an NHL defender and he could score 65 points. He could also be a major liability in his own zone and that could hurt the team significantly, especially in the playoffs.
Yes, Quinn Hughes, etc... These are exceptions, not the rule. There are also many more examples of skilled small defensemen who are not Quinn Hughes and who aren't able to hold their own on a top or middle pair on a cup contending team. Girard is even one of these examples.