Martin St. Louis and the Best 'Waterbug' on Each NHL Team
Waterbug. No, not the little insect that can hope around on the top of water that nobody can catch, but something slightly similar.
In sports terminology, it refers to a smaller player that bounces around and is nearly impossible to catch.
In this slideshow, we'll be taking a look at each team's best "waterbug."
1. Vancouver Canucks: Mason Raymond
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Mason Raymond is one of the bigger waterbugs in the league, but on a team like Vancouver, he's one of the guys that fills this role.
At 6'0", 182 lbs, Raymond isn't your smallest guy, and he uses that to his advantage. The Canucks are a big team, so a guy his size still seems pretty small, until he hits you.
Raymond reminds me a bit of Dan Hinote. Hinote was another small guy who was a very effective checker, and Raymond fits that bill. Plus, he's able to chip in offensively. That is what separates him from Hinote, it's never that much of a surprise when Raymond buries one.
2. Detroit Red Wings: Kris Draper
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Kris Draper is one of the best smaller players in the NHL. He is 5'10" and 190 lbs, not tiny by any stretch, but far from big.
Draper has been a third line player for his whole career, but his value is not to be doubted. He is a very clutch faceoff man, and a great penalty killer.
For his size, Draper is also involved more physical than your typical waterbug, but that's because he knows what his role is supposed to be. It's hard to be a third line, checking style center if you aren't willing to check. He's more than willing.
3. San Jose Sharks: Dan Boyle
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The San Jose Sharks are a HUGE team. Not just big, HUGE. So, finding a guy that fits into the "waterbug" realm is a bit of a challenge.
Dan Boyle mostly fits into this description. He's 5'11", 190 lbs, so not really that small, but he looks pretty small on a team like San Jose.
Boyle is an offensive minded defenseman who can really surprise people. San Jose is a team that runs straight through you, most of the time. So when Boyle comes out, it's a shock when he goes around instead of through. That change of pace that he provides is very valuable to a rock 'em sock 'em team like the Sharks.
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4. Phoenix Coyotes: Ray Whitney
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Phoenix is a very tough team, they aren't big, but they're tough. Ray Whitney is exactly that type of waterbug. He's only 5'10" and 180 lbs, but he plays bigger.
He's got 53 points for his team, 14 goals and 39 assists, and was acquired last year at the deadline to give Phoenix a little bit more depth on their offense.
He does that very well and provides a secondary level of scoring for a team that had been pretty one dimensional in the past.
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane
5 of 31Patrick Kane is not a big guy. He's only 5'10" and 178 lbs, he is definitely not going to run through anybody, but he more than makes up for his lack of size with his ability.
Patrick Kane has so much ability that it is really scary. He has speed, power, agility, stick handling ability, a scorer's touch, and a big shot. He has absolutely everything that is needed to be a mega-star in the NHL for a long, LONG time.
Kane may be a waterbug, but people are planning on how to stop this guy every single game, and they are very rarely successful.
6. Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Brown
6 of 31Far from the smallest dog in the fight, Dustin Brown still, more or less, satisfies the waterbug description.
At six feet tall, Brown's stature is far from towering, but he does weigh 207 lbs, which makes him very stout.
What makes Brown different from many of the other waterbugs is exactly how physical this guy is. He doesn't go for the pretty play, he goes to knock you out. He'll also drop the gloves with you when it needs to happen. Just take a look at his clips up above to see what I'm talking about.
Who'd have thought that a person that is labeled as a waterbug could also be called a beast!
7. Nashville Predators: Patric Hornqvist
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Patric Hornqvist is definitely the best waterbug on the Predators. He's another feisty third liner who puts in hard work in the corners, but still has a scoring touch.
He's capable of putting up 20 goals a year, which is quite something for a third line forward.
Plus, he's probably the only guy on the Predators that can claim to have a better blond look than Carrie Underwood. Sorry, I had to.
8. Anaheim Ducks: Saku Koivu
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For a team that his the size that the Ducks do, I was surprised to find out that there are six players on that roster that are less than six feet tall. The things you learn when you're researching.
Saku Koivu is by far the best waterbug on the team. He's been a star in the league for years and, even though he is approaching the end of his career, he remains an effective scoring forward.
While he doesn't put up the numbers that he used to in his younger days, he is still a 20 goal scorer who is a leader on your roster. Can't have too many of those guys.
9. Dallas Stars: Brenden Morrow
9 of 31One word come into my mind when I think about Brenden Morrow, and that is a leader. The Stars clearly think that as well, as Morrow has been the captain of their franchise for the past few seasons.
He has that rare mix that you can find in great players, regardless of their size. He scores, he hits, he fights, he passes, he does everything that needs to be done, and he always has.
Brenden Morrow may be a waterbug, but he's also the Star's most valuable player.
10. Calgary Flames: Alex Tanguay
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The Lightning didn't know what they had with this guy. The absolutely didn't give him a shot and they are fools for it.
As an avid follower of the Colorado Avalanche, I saw this guy work some magic through the years. His hands are golden, he can make absolutely any pass there is.
Then, just as soon as you've given up on the possibility that Tanguay might actually shoot the puck, he buries one with the wicked shot that he doesn't use nearly enough.
Though he is six feet tall, and 192, he still fills that waterbug role for the Calgary Flames.
11. Minnesota Wild: Pierre-Marc Bouchard
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5'10" tall, 173 lbs, Pierre-Marc Bouchard is an absolute rocket. This guy is one of the fastest skaters that I have ever seen.
He's more defensively minded, but is usually still good for about 15 to 20 goals a year. Plus, he'll give you some great penalty kill time. Not only in his own zone, Bouchard makes the Wild a serious shorthanded threat because of his explosiveness.
He can also do some good stuff on the power play as well.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Derek MacKenzie
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Derek MacKenzie is a great unknown to the NHL. He has played in eight seasons, but only briefly, until this season.
He's done his best to make the most of his opportunity, tallying eight goals and 11 assist. He's also managed to work his way onto the second line of the Blue Jackets.
Small guy who has worked hard to get where he is. Hopefully he can put together a few really solid seasons for the Blue Jackets.
13. St. Louis Blues: Andy McDonald
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Andy McDonald, at 5'10", 183 lbs, is definitely in this waterbug mold, and he is also one of the biggest leaders on the St. Louis Blues.
McDonald is a past 30 goal scorer that has a Stanley Cup ring to his credit when he played with the Anaheim Ducks.
He's a very clear leader on this Blues team, and can do it all. He's fast, he can shoot, he's tough, and he's always around in big moments for his team.
14. Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene
14 of 31Matt Duchene is one of the best recent draft picks that the Avalanche have ever made. In only his second year in the league, Duchene has turned into a serious leader for this team.
Duchene is a definite waterbug, but doesn't shy away from contact. He's very smart with the way that he uses his body position in order to keep his leverage and fend off defenders.
He's also so elusive. The goal he scored against the Norwegian team, check the 1:56 mark of the clip, just epitomizes his skills. Think he's going one way, whoops, it's in the back of the net.
He's also got magical hands in passing skills. He'll be scoring and setting up goals for years to come.
15. Edmonton Oilers: Jordan Eberle
15 of 31Eberle is 5'10" and 174 lbs, so he isn't big at all, but this kid is lighting in a bottle, as this highlight above shows.
Eberle is a rookie, and not too many people have heard about him this year as almost everybody is talking about Taylor Hall.
Eberle, however, will be a huge star for these Oilers in the future. He has a great scorer's touch, and will be hard to stop throughout what will be an electric career.
16. Philadelphia Flyers: Daniel Brier
16 of 31Danny Briere looks smaller than he is. He is 5'10", 179 lbs, but looks like he is smaller. Not because he is an invisible player, but because he constantly shows up seemingly out of nowhere.
He has great moves, sweet hands, and a powerful shot that he unleashes when you least expect it.
Danny Briere is another one of those waterbug types that, no matter what you do, he manages to just get around whoever is checking him. Why Buffalo let this guy get away remains a mystery to many.
17. Washington Capitals: Marcus Johansson
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Johansson is really the only guy on the Capitals that falls into the waterbug stature. He is 5'11", 189 lbs.
Johansson is a rookie who has worked his way up to the Capitals first line. At the moment, he only has 11 goals, but playing on the same line as Ovechkin can definitely yield several more points in his young career.
18. Boston Bruins: Mark Recchi
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5'10" tall, and 195 lbs, Recchi isn't the smallest of the waterbug types, but he has fulfilled this type of role in his career.
His strength is something that still catches people off-guard. Twenty-two years in the league will obviously take its tole, and he is no longer the scorer he once was, but he is still very valuable to his team.
19. Pittsburgh Penguins: Tyler Kennedy
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At 5'11" and 183 lbs, Tyler Kennedy is another very scrappy waterbug. In addition to the physical play that he brings, he also have a very impressive burst of speed that he frequently uses to his advantage.
On the third line for the Penguins, Kennedy currently has 17 goals and does have a very good chance of breaking the 20 goal mark for the firs time in his career.
Though he's smaller, Kennedy was a big part of the Penguins Stanley Cup championship, and if the Penguins are to win the cup again this year, Kennedy will have to step up even more.
20. Tampa Bay Lightning: Martin St. Louis
20 of 31This is the easiest choice of the lot. St. Louis is the absolute definition of waterbug. At 5'9", 177 lbs, Martin St. Louis isn't just small, he can fit in the pocket of a guy like Zdeno Chara, but that doesn't stop him.
St. Louis has a Stanley Cup to his credit, as well as a league MVP. Moves like the ones he shows in the clip above show exactly how valuable these guys can be.
St. Louis not only continues to be an effective player in the league, he continues to be one of the best players in the league, and one of the best leaders in the NHL. His value cannot be measured in statistics.
21. Montreal Canadiens: Mike Cammalleri
21 of 31Cammelleri is one of the smallest of these waterbug players, but also one of the best players in the NHL. He's 5'9" tall and 185 lbs.
He's another one of those small guys that people just seem to lose track of on the ice. In the highlights above, he just shows up in the right place, and nobody notices that he is there until he buries it.
His stick work is what makes him so good. Where some people would hit people against the boards in order to try and free up the puck, he just pokes the puck away and keeps moving. You never expect what he's going to do until after he does it, and by then it's far too late.
22. New York Rangers: Ryan Callahan
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Ryan Callahan has been a big part of the New York Rangers this year, and we're not talking about his size. He's 5'11", 185 lbs, so he's not around because he's big.
He's around because he's got 23 goals and 23 assists, and really knows how to score on that top line of the Rangers.
23. Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Ennis
23 of 31Tyler Ennis is a definitely one of these pure waterbug style of players. He's 5'9" and 163 lbs. Another small dog who doesn't allow his size to keep him out of the game.
He played only 10 games in his first year in the league, and now, with almost a full season under his belt, he is proving his worth to the Sabres, scoring almost 20 goals this year.
His speed and tenacity is something that will be valuable to whatever team he plays for for a long time.
24. Carolina Hurricanes: Jeff Skinner
24 of 31Jeff Skinner is a rookie, and at 5'11" tall, 193 lbs, he's pretty darn good.
As a rookie, he has tallied 52 points, 25 goals and 27 assists, for a team that is in the middle of a playoff push.
The type of goal highlighted above is a great example of a waterbug goal. Just when you think you've got a beat on him, he makes a turn, accelerates through two defenseman, and boom, it's in the back of the net.
This is another kid that has a very bright future ahead of him in the NHL.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs: Mikhail Grabovski
25 of 31Grabovski is just the absolute epitome of silky smooth. And at 5'11", 179 lbs, he is also a perfect example of a waterbug.
He's fast, he's elusive, he makes all his big plays while the defender is turning around trying to keep up with him.
Another waterbug that is having a big year for his team as well. Grabovski has 27 goals and 26 assists, and is a big part of Toronto's push to get back into the playoffs.
26. New Jersey Devils: Andy Greene
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Andy Greene is really the only one that qualifies as a waterbug on the Devils, but he is capable of putting up some pretty good numbers.
He broke the 40 point plateau last year, which is a big number for defenseman that get involved offensively. That's especially big for a team like the Devils that play some of the most defensive-minded hockey in the league
You could make an argument for Patrick Elias, but he's a bit too tall to be considered a waterbug, in my opinion.
27. Atlanta Thrashers: Tobias Enstrom
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Tobias Enstrom is another one of these waterbug defenseman that are really dangerous offensively. His numbers this year should help prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Enstrom is having his best offensive year this year with 10 goals and 41 assists. 40 points is a huge mark for defenseman, 50 points is a gigantic mark.
If you break 50 points, as a defensman, your name is going to come up in the conversation for the Norris Trophy.
28. Florida Panthers: Stephen Weiss
28 of 31Stephen Weiss has been the MVP of the Panthers for the last few years. He's not a big guy, 5'11" and 191 lbs, but again, just has a magical touch.
Handles the puck well, shoots great, and the puck finds him when he is in the danger zones.
If Weiss gets more support on that team, he could easily break the 30 goal mark.
29. New York Islanders: John Tavares
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The skill of Tavares is undeniable. In fact, to this point, his career is thought to be a bit of a disappointment.
Everybody thought that he would run away with the Calder trophy. Not so much. Figured he'd help turn the Islanders around, not yet.
This year, however, he has definitely made steps in the right direction. He has 26 goals and 34 assists, and is definitely on the way to being a big star in this game, even though he's only 6'0" and 195 lbs.
30. Ottawa Senators: Daniel Alfredsson
30 of 31Alfredsson is one of the all-time great waterbugs. A guy who gives it his all every night, leads his team, and comes up huge.
5'11" and 208 lbs, his numbers speak for themselves.
Career: 389 goals, 634 assists, 1023 points.
Alfredsson will be part of the Hall of Fame someday.
Size Doesn't Matter
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The NHL is definitely a different game than it was. It used to be that a team needed to be big and strong to have a chance at the Cup. Now, the focus is so much more on speed and skating, which has paved the way for these "waterbug" players.
Despite the fact that these "waterbugs" are smaller than your average player, they step up for their teams.
They lead by example, and they make the absolute most out of ever single second that they spend on the ice.
Each of these players bring something very valuable to their teams, and absolutely prove the statement true.
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
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