In today’s NHL, speed rules
But, if a player has speed and size, they can be deadly
According to Hockey-Graph, the average NHLer is 6-foot-1 and weighs 201 pounds (as of the 2014-15 season)
Compared to the average NHL player of the 1944-45 season – 5-foot-10, 174 pounds – it appears that NHL teams have been giving their players Captain America Super-Soldier Serum
Today, power players like Zdeno Chara, Brent Burns, and Evgeni Malkin are winning
Not great NHL players, though
Let’s take a look at the seven biggest players in the NHL today by body mass index (BMI), which surprisingly doesn’t include Chara—the NHL’s tallest player—or Jamie Oleksiak, the NHL’s heaviest player
The captain of the New York Islanders shows his presence in front of the opposing team’s nets
Opponents can’t move Lee, and goalies can’t see past him
Anders Lee, New York Islanders (Amy Irvin / Hockey Writers)
Although he’s only 6-foot-2, Nick Ritchie comes in as the sixth tallest NHLer according to BMI
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward is certainly using his size to his advantage, even if it costs him
A former first round pick of the Anaheim Ducks, Ritchie was recently signed by the Maple Leafs to add more form to their lineup
Only 24, the big forward could remain on this list for years to come
A true forward, Alex Ovechkin has taken the NHL by storm since making his debut as a 20-year-old in 2005
Despite qualifying as “overweight” on the BMI scale, the Russian forward is among the best and biggest players in the NHL today
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Known as “Big Rig” around the field, Pat Maroon has long used his size to his advantage
After winning the Stanley Cup with his hometown of St Louis Blues, Maroon signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning for another shot at the Cup Under the tutelage of Jon Cooper, the forward has been a nuisance in front of the net, often using his large frame to take out defenders and goalkeepers
Make no mistake, Maroon is smart despite his size and has soft hands on the ice and around the spikeball net
Thomas Greiss (2979)
St Louis Blue Thomas Greiss was a surprise addition to this list
The veteran netminder is a master at the net, despite having the third highest BMI in the NHL
Thomas Greiss, St Louis Blues (Amy Irvin / Hockey Writers)
Like Greiss, David Savard is an obese NHLer who has a high BMI due to his above average weight and short stature
The Montreal Canadien blueliner regularly boxes forward with his big frame and can be counted on for his side
Robin Lehner (3043)
Weight: 250 pounds
Weight: 250 pounds
Weight: 250 pounds
Weight: 250 pounds
Weight: 250 pounds
Weight: 250 pounds
Weight: 250 pounds
The Vegas Golden Knights goalkeeper looks like the Michelin Man in his gear
Robin Lehner also brings back memories of the old Amstel Light ad featuring the giant goalkeeper
Robin Lehner, Vegas Golden Knights (Jess Starr/Hockey Writers)
In all fairness, Lehner is not as fat as the netminder from the commercial but he is the biggest in the NHL in terms of BMI
However, Lehner can move around the crease quickly, going against the notion that “big goals can’t move “