NHL: Small Players, Big Games

Great things come in small packages.

Size isn't everything. Sure, it helps and some guys depend on it constantly. Would Hal Gill be in the NHL if it weren't for his 6'7" frame? I highly doubt it.

Remember when Pat Quinn thought that Steve Sullivan would never make it in the big leagues? Oh, how mistaken we were Pat.

As the saying goes: It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. Today, the NHL has its share of smaller players with great talent. These guys have to fight for every inch of ice and take some hits from their larger opponents in the process.

Martin St. Louis

Standing at 5'9", St. Louis is the ultimate role model for the shorter athletes looking to fight their way in the league. In 2003-04, the Quebec native was the league MVP with 94 points.

Not enough? That same year he led the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup victory. He's got great speed, good vision, and a one-timer that will hit the net from even the toughest angles.

Pavel Datsyuk

Now, when I mentioned that the players lacking size have to fight for their ice, I wouldn't include Datsyuk in that category. It seems like he can fly by defensemen effortlessly.

All it took was one goal for him to become well-known. The breakaway against Marty Turco in Dallas a few years ago. Ring a bell? The Russian is one of the best, if not the best, stick-handlers in the game today.

Patrick Kane

Only in his second year, but Kane has shown the world what he can do from day one. After a 72-point rookie campaign that saw him capture the Calder Trophy, the 19-year-old has already totalled 19 points through 14 games.

"The way he moves, his deking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb." Alexander Semin said. A fine compliment coming from the current point leader in the NHL.

Zach Parise

Martin Brodeur may be injured, but Parise will do his best to carry the offense in New Jersey. He fights for every loose puck and constantly heads to the net looking for rebounds and deflections.

Coming off back-to-back seasons with 30-plus goals, the 24-year-old looks poised for a career-year. In just 15 games, he's already scored 11 goals.

Marc Savard

I'm willing to bet the Atlanta Thrashers miss Savard's services. Although he's got great vision and passing, you'd like to see him shoot the puck more. When he does, it finds the net quite often.

With at least 60 assists in each of the past three seasons, this year should be more of the same for Savard.

Paul Kariya

The way he's going, you can expect a few more years for Kariya at the very least. He, too, has a great shot, but prefers to set up his teammates for the most part. Injuries have limited him to 11 games this year, but he's still managed 15 points.

St. Louis' playoff hopes depend hugely on Kariya's presence.

Mike Cammalleri

The 49th overall pick in the 2001 Entry Draft played some fine hockey with the Los Angeles Kings. Now in Calgary, Cammalleri could surpass the 80 points he achieved two years ago.

Another smaller player with a great shot, and good passing abilities. Soon, we'll see him in postseason action, too.

Ray Whitney

When Eric Staal breaks out of his slump, you can guarantee that Whitney will be the one setting the puck up on a platter for him. A veteran with the eyes and hands for a 19-year-old.

What many forget is that he's nearing 800 points in his career.

Bryan Little

He fits the profile, and his last name is Little. If there was a cover-boy for this article, he'd be it. Don't let the name fool you, though. The Alberta native is coming into his own as an NHL player.

Little has averaged a point per game thus far this year, leading the Thrashers while Ilya Kovalchuk struggles.

Andy McDonald

His playing seems to resemble Kariya's. McDonald has some of the fastest wheels in the game, and the great offensive touch to go along with it. You see a guy like Jason Chimera who can skate, but can't stick-handle for nothing.

Not McDonald. He's found a new home in St. Louis after being traded from Anaheim last year.

Daniel Briere

It's amazing when you think of him being traded for Chris Gratton many years ago. I think we know who got the better of that deal. Briere seems to always come out of scrums with the puck and catches the defenseman rushing into the play late.

His one-on-one capabilities are superb, and plenty of goaltenders have been terrorized with his breakaways.