The problem is, still only one team wins. There are probably other teams with similar profiles to Florida that aren't winning. I think people get caught in the trap of thinking that whoever wins in a given year has the secret formula and wanting to emulate it (including front offices across the league). And still only one team will win. There are tons of different formulas to win, including ones that haven't been used or have been used and haven't worked yet. I don't think it's a bad thing that we have our own way of doing things and there is some merit to zigging when others are zagging sometimes. Play to your strengths.
For sure. And I'm sure Tulsky & co. have run analytics to see if size really does matter
. But that got me curious on previous Stanley Cup winners and how sizable they were. Since I'm applying for the assistant GM position. Here's my very comprehensive research analysis... Hire me Tulsky!
Data:
What you're looking at - The amount of players under 6ft on the cup winning team over the past 10 winners. Requirement is at least 75% of games played to qualify.
Vegas - 1 player (Marchessault)
Colorado - 2 players (Lehkonen, Cogliano) *Newhook played 12 games.
Tampa - 5 players (Kucherov, Coleman, Point, Gourde, Johnson)
Tampa - 5 players (Kucherov, Coleman, Point, Gourde, Johnson)
St. Louis - 1 player (Schwartz)
Washington - 1 player (Orlov)
Pittsburgh - 8 players (Guentzel, Wilson, Rust, Hornqvist, Crosby, Daley, Sheary)
Pittsburgh - 5 players (Rust, Kessel, Hornqvist, Crosby, Sheary) *Daley played 15 games.
Blackhawks - 4 players (Teravainen, Shaw, Kane, Timmonen) *Versteeg played 12 games
Kings - 1 player (Richards)
So it's about 50/50 for teams to have 2 or less under 6ft guys. The formula does show that you need at least one guy in the 5 feets.
More data:
What you're looking at - This years conference finals. All 4 teams utilized a low amount of under 6ft players.
Florida - 1 (Rodrigues)
New York Rags - 2 (Fox, Trocheck)
Dallas - 1 (Stankoven)
Edmonton - 1 (Ryan)
Suggestions after my research on what to do with our guys living in the 5ft world:
I personally think having a bit more size could be a difference maker for us in the playoffs. So let's retool a bit and add some inches to our lineup
1. Jarvis gets a pass, because he's freaking Jarvis.
2. Guentzel. He's not 6ft, but the dude freaking games. Sign his ass.
3. Let Teravainen walk away in free agency and look for a skilled power forward above the height of 6ft to be placed in the middle 6. Lawson Crouse would fit the mold.
4. While we like Drury's game and he makes for a solid bottom 4 center. Let's look to find a right handed center (So Brind'Amour can over utilize him in key situations, just to get the faceoff matchups he dreams of) + would like a bit of sandpaper in his toolbox, along with 6ft+ of height for the ladies. My hours just ended for the day, I've got alcoholic beverages to drink with friends tonight, so I didn't pick a player yet to fill Drury's position. Sorry boss.
5. DeAngelo can be launched into the sun. We likely already have this position filled internally this year with Morrow or Coghlan that could fill in the bottom 6 as a emergency call up.
Sponsors of this research:
This research project is brought to you by Adderall. I really zoned in on the wrong thing lol.