Top 10 Shortest NHL Players Ever

Size has never been the defining factor for success in the NHL. While hockey has increasingly trended toward bigger and stronger athletes, the league has always featured players who prove that skill, speed, and intelligence can outweigh physical stature.

Historically, NHL teams have often prioritized players with a larger frame. Height and reach were long seen as major advantages in board battles, puck protection, and physical matchups. For decades, many smaller players simply did not receive the same opportunities as bigger prospects unless they possessed truly elite skill.

But the modern NHL is slowly shifting. As the league has become faster and more skill driven, smaller players have found new ways to thrive. Players with elite skating, agility, and puck control can exploit space on the ice and avoid physical battles rather than engage in them.

So who is the shortest NHL player ever and who is the shortest NHL player currently playing in the NHL?

The shortest NHL player ever is goaltender Roy Worters, listed at 160 cm (5'3"). Among active players, the title belongs to Cole Caufield, who stands at 172 cm (5'8"). The Montréal Canadiens sniper is among the smallest players in the modern NHL but has developed into one of the league's most dangerous goal scorers.

Interestingly many of the shortest players active in today's NHL also appear on all time lists of the smallest players to reach the league. That overlap suggests an important trend. Smaller players are not only making the NHL more frequently, they are also establishing long and productive careers. The success of players like Alex DeBrincat and Mats Zuccarello highlights how the league's evolution toward speed and skill is opening doors that may have been closed to similar players in earlier eras.

Below is a look at the shortest NHL players currently active followed by some of the shortest players in league history.

Shortest NHL Player Currently

The shortest active NHL player is Cole Caufield, listed at 172 cm (5'8").

Despite being smaller than most NHL forwards Caufield has built a reputation as an elite scorer thanks to his quick release elite hockey sense and ability to find space in the offensive zone.

He is not alone however. Several current NHL players measure well below the league average height of roughly 185 cm (6'1").

Other current NHL players among the smallest in the league include Mats Zuccarello, Alex DeBrincat, Logan Stankoven, Conor Garland, Bobby Brink, Justin Danforth, Colin Blackwell and Gavin Brindley, all listed at 173 cm (5'8"). Brad Marchand, Kailer Yamamoto and Nick Robertson are close behind at 175 cm (5'9").

Players like Zuccarello DeBrincat and Marchand have shown that smaller forwards can become stars in the NHL. Their success often comes from elite edge work creativity with the puck and an ability to attack open ice before larger defenders can react.

At the same time many of these players are not simply surviving in the league. Several have become top line forwards power play specialists and key offensive drivers for their teams.

Shortest Current NHL Players

Shortest NHL Players Ever

Looking across NHL history many of the shortest players to reach the league have still managed to leave a significant mark.

One of the most notable examples is Johnny Gaudreau, who stood just 175 cm (5'9") but became one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive players before his death in August 2024. Known for his elite edge work and creativity Gaudreau proved that smaller players could dominate at the highest level of the sport.

The same can be said for Zuccarello whose vision and playmaking ability have allowed him to enjoy a long and productive NHL career despite being one of the league's smallest forwards.

Meanwhile DeBrincat quickly established himself as one of the NHL's most reliable goal scorers consistently producing at a top line pace despite standing just 173 cm (5'8").

Another example is Denis Malgin, who spent several seasons in the NHL before becoming a star in Europe while players like Stankoven Yamamoto and Robertson represent the next generation of smaller forwards pushing their way into the league.

Even players who spent significant time outside the NHL such as Nikita Gusev illustrate how elite skill can compensate for a lack of size.

What stands out on the all-time list is that it is dominated by players from earlier eras, several of them goaltenders. Today's shortest NHL players are only a few centimeters taller, and smaller forwards are making NHL rosters more frequently, staying in the league longer and producing at a high level.

Shortest NHL Players Ever

Does Size Matter in the NHL?

While the NHL average height has steadily increased over the decades the modern game has created more room for players who win with skill rather than physical dominance.

Players under 175 cm (5'9") often rely on a different toolkit than their larger counterparts. Quick acceleration elite edge work and rapid decision making allow them to avoid heavy contact and exploit small pockets of space on the ice.

As the NHL continues to emphasize speed puck possession and creativity smaller players may continue to gain opportunities that once favored bigger prospects. The success of many of today's shortest NHL players suggests that the league's evolving style of play may be reshaping how teams evaluate size and skill for future generations.

FAQ