All this recent talk about the Flyers history and size got me to wondering, "How do the Flyers stack up to the rest of the NHL, size wise?" It's a legitmate question, after all.
The 90's Flyers, thanks to Bobby Clarke, were obsessed with it. Unfortunately, their size proved to be a hinderance when they couldn't hit what they couldn't catch. The Broad Street Bullies may not have been the biggest team in the NHL at the time, but they certainly were the most aggressive.
As of right now, with the current roster in place, the Flyers are the third youngest team in the NHL at 27.1 years of age. Only Buffalo and San Jose are younger. It shouldn't surprise you that the Penguins are the oldest.
As it pertains to size, the Flyers are tied with the Avalanche for third shortest team at 72.7 inches, which translates to 60.5 feet tall. Only the Pens and Canadiens are shorter. When it comes to weight, the Flyers are the lightest team in the NHL at 187.6 pounds.
Does size matter?
A lot of people think bigger players means more physical players. The more physical your players are, the better they can control the puck. This led to the Broad Street Bullies Stanley Cup champion teams. It was also the rationale for the entire era of Bobby Clarke as team GM.
In his efforts to recreate the Bullies with Eric Lindros and Keith Primeau, the emphasis became bigger is better. And while the Flyers had a sustained era of excellence, they never quite reached the hockey holy land.
Looking at the current NHL, I mentioned that the Avalanche are the same height as the Flyers. Interestingly enough, they are also the fourth lightest team at 194 lbs. We are only three years removed from their last Stanley Cup. Likewise, they've been considered contenders every year since.
Surprsingly, the Panthers are the eighth lightest team in the NHL at 196 lbs. As far as height goes, Florida's average is 73.5 in the league, good for 13th. That's only an inch or so taller than the Flyers. So, for all the talk during the playoffs about their size, they averaged only a half an inch taller than Carolina and were a pound lighter. Edmonton is right in the middle of the pack and have been considered to be Stanley Cup contenders for a while now.
Team Average?
Ok, the team average thing is kind of a misnomer. Bobby Brink is the smallest player on the ice at 5'8" and 169. However, he is anything but "little" on the ice. Despite his size, he brings an intensity that you would expect to see from someone who is 6'4" and 225. It is his grit, energy, and determiniation that keeps getting him playing time on the ice. He puts everything out there every night.
Not everyone on the Flyers is short. Not everyone is bulky. Not every big guy is slow. Not every little guy is fast. All of that has to be looked at individually with each player's skill set and abilities.
Florida has the right combination of players to be successful. So does Edmonton and Carolina. Does size matter? To some degree. I'd feel more comfortable with a team of guys over 6'0" than under 5'5", for example. Does size determine success? Not necessairly.
You will need a combination of size and skills to be a champion team in the NHL. The Flyers are trending towards getting bigger. The question now remains, do they have the skills to compete?