A number of faithful PenguinPoop readers and bloggers (myself included) have suggested in the recent past that the Penguins’ onerous injury situation may be related to our physical stature. Comparatively small, by NHL standards.
With a little time to kill between games, I thought I’d do a quickie comparison to see what I could see.
Beginning in 2012-13, Toronto-based writer James Mirtle has published a list each year displaying the average height, weight and age of NHL teams, based on season-opening rosters.
Here’s the Pens’ tale of the tape.
| Season | Height | Rank | Weight | Rank | Age | Rank |
| 2012-13 | 73.3” | 13 | 203.3 | 17 | 28.5 | 11 |
| 2013-14 | 73.1” | 22 | 202.1 | 19 | 28.9 | 3 |
| 2014-15 | 73.2” | 15 | 199.6 | 25 | 28.5 | 4 |
| 2015-16 | 73” | 24 | 197.8 | 26 | 28.3 | 4 |
| 2016-17 | 73” | 20 | 197.4 | 27 | 28.4 | 2 |
It comes as no great surprise that the Pens rank among the smallest teams in the NHL. Since the days when Jurassic Period dinos such as Hal Gill, Georges Laraque and Mike Rupp roamed Steel City ice surfaces, the black and gold have steadily downsized, trading off bulk for speed. Culminating in last season’s light but blitzkrieg-quick Stanley Cup winners.
Next comes the table displaying man games lost to illness and injury, according to NHL Injury Viz. The data stretches back a couple of extra seasons, to 2010-11.
For the sake of comparing apples to apples, I’ve excluded retired players Pascal Dupuis (’16-17) and Tomas Vokoun (’13-14) who were still under contract. Technically, they count toward the total.
| Season | Forwards | Defense | Goal | Retired* | Total | Games | MGL/P |
| 2010-11 | 321 | 37 | 7 | 0 | 365 | 82 | 4.45 |
| 2011-12 | 192 | 154 | 17 | 0 | 363 | 82 | 4.43 |
| 2012-13 | 41 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 79 | 48 | 1.65 |
| 2013-14 | 289 | 156 | 0 | 82 | 445 | 82 | 5.43 |
| 2014-15 | 196 | 133 | 5 | 0 | 334 | 82 | 4.07 |
| 2015-16 | 243 | 61 | 14 | 0 | 318 | 82 | 3.88 |
| 2016-17 | 123 | 122 | 8 | 76 | 253 | 76 | 3.33 |
| * Not included in Total | |||||||
While hardly an in-depth study, my attempt to establish a correlation between average size and injuries proved inconclusive. Still, the results are eye-catching all the same.
Much to my astonishment, this hasn’t been the most injury-plagued of our recent seasons. To the contrary, we’ve been reasonably healthy from a Penguins perspective, trailing only the lockout shortened 2012-13 campaign in fewest man games lost on a per/game basis.
Nor has our present defense lost the most time due to ailments. That honor—dubious as it may be—goes to the decidedly star-crossed ’13-14 squad, which led the NHL in man games lost. The blueline corps that season was bled to the tune of 156 man games lost, compared to the current total of 122 this season.
Talk about calamity.
Of course, the numbers don’t reflect the timing of the injuries. I thought I’d take a look at that, too. The following table displays man games lost for each month.
| Season | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | Total* |
| 2010-11 | 39 | 22 | 41 | 37 | 103 | 103 | 20 | 365 |
| 2011-12 | 52 | 54 | 94 | 51 | 47 | 55 | 10 | 363 |
| 2012-13 | — | — | — | 2 | 12 | 18 | 47 | 79 |
| 2013-14 | 42 | 50 | 101 | 79 | 27 | 98 | 48 | 445 |
| 2014-15 | 18 | 21 | 117 | 64 | 41 | 43 | 30 | 334 |
| 2015-16 | 24 | 21 | 39 | 34 | 76 | 88 | 36 | 318 |
| 2016-17 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 43 | 102 | — | 253 |
| * Does not include retired players still on the roster | ||||||||
The Pens enjoyed comparatively good health through February. However, March—with 102 man games lost and counting—has been a disaster. Shortly to become the second-most injury plagued month in the study, behind only December of 2014.
Obviously, the timing couldn’t be poorer. Especially for a team with legit Cup aspirations.
Here’s hoping our Pens buck the downward trend in April and regain their vigor. Faced with what, in all likelihood, will be an ultra-difficult first-round matchup with a very physical Columbus team, they’ll surely need it.
Hey Rick,
I think the problem here isn’t just size and that is what may confound you stats.
I think the Pens are behind the 8-ball on several counts that put them at a higher risk of injury;
1) As you mentioned size. I don’t think we need to do a study to know the obvious, the smaller participant in a collision will receive the worst of it.
2) Age, even though the Pens are starting to use some of their younger players the core players are getting older so it doesn’t look like there has been any reduction in average age. Older players are much more at risk for injury.
3) Shot blocking: I am all for shot blocking but the Pens are having to do way too much of it since they can’t seem to clear their own zone with any consistency.
What is the answer? Maybe Kuhnhackl should have been given more Ice Time per game all the way back in game 1. Maybe Kunitz, Cullen, Daley, Letang, and even Malkin and Crosby should have been given some nights off earlier in the season to keep them fresher and at a lower risk of injury, particularly against weaker teams. The season had been shortened a little, not so much in games but in rest between games because of the World Cup and Crosby and Malkin were integral players for their Countries in that tournament. I hate to be critical of Sullie but I do question his player managment in terms of games played by player this year.
So, I do think size has played a part in the injuries but I think there is an age and shot blocking interaction to consider.
Hey Other Rick,
I’m in scramble mode today, so I just have a moment to respond.
Really astute points, my friend, right down the line. Outstanding.
Honestly, I have nothing to add. You pretty much covered it all … 🙂
Rick
Hey Guys
I want to add tempo of the game and experience.
We are playing a roadrunner mentality now where past teams were not as fast as the last 2 years.Sully plays an upbeat all in approach. That has an affect.
With experience I mean that Sid,Geno,Letang ,MAF and Chris K. have played a lot of Hockey in difficult times over the years and it is starting to show. It is not just a number.
Plus most disturbing fact is the league is getting bigger and we are not
Thoughts. ?
Hey Jim,
You are right, not only are those core players getting older, they have been abused many years by some of hockeys worst thugs while the See no Penalty, Hear no Penalty, Call no Penalty stripes abetted the criminal plays. Crosbby, Malkin, and Letang in particular suffered at the hands of these plays so their bodies are worn more than others at their hockey ages.
I also don’t understand our drafting trading philosophy of looking for the smallest player possible while the league gets bigger.
Hey Jim,
Speaking of Roadrunners and injuries, did you see where Cournoyer hit the cycle for joint surgery? At 73, the Roadrunner had to have his left shoulder surgically repaired from all of his hockey injuries; this to go along with both of his knee surgeries and his right shoulder surgery.
Thanks Coach
I did not see that. Great player who never complained and just went out and did his job.( get the puck.)
His speed and driving to the net was legendary among the Montreal faithful.
FYI. Rumor has it he could beat LaFleur in a race and he was much older.
One of the good guys and I am not a Montreal fan.
But have great respect for him.
Thanks again
I bleed Black and Gold and in the early days of the Pens bled Blue and White, so like you I can’t say that I am a huge fan of Montreal but growing up in the 60’s and 70’s I have always respected their reign. They had a lot of great players but Cournoyer and Dryden were my 2 favorite. I can believe the rumor about him being faster than LaFleur, it always appeared to me that he was the fastest player on ice. I think that is what made him my favorite.
Switching to goaltending, that is also why I really like Murray, he reminds me of Dryden.
Rick
Agree with the other Rick – injuries to the Pen’s are a combination
of size and age.
Im not sure why we’re surprised by the current injuries – Letang,
Matta spend mega time on the injured list and Daley was hurt
around the same time last year if I remember correctly. Rust, Sheary
and Guentzel are all small in stature.
JR needs to address this situation during the off-season even if it
means trading one of our midgets. Now Kunitz is hurt.