Logan Stankoven lighting up the playoffs at 5-foot-8 proves the Maple Leafs have been doing it wrong
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Undersized forward Logan Stankoven has been key for the Carolina Hurricanes in the postseason. It should convince the Leafs to look beyond size.
The Carolina Hurricanes have a key offensive weapon in 5'8 winger Logan Stankoven, with the 23-year-old a major contributor for the Canes this postseason.
Against the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the NHL playoffs, Stankoven is showing up as a leader for Carolina, having scored in all of their first three games, the Hurricanes having won their first matches against Ottawa for a 2-0 series lead.
Stankoven added a third goal in the third game of the series, having four points in his first three games of the first round match-up, a key asset for Carolina in their playoff run early on.
Already having his size be a source of doubt throughout his career extending back to his time in junior hockey, Stankoven has been proving himself, and showing to some teams locked in on size that a smaller player can make a clutch impact.
Logan Stankoven proves that small players are worth taking a chance on
Logan Stankoven shows that just is the case with a player of any size, that clear talented players will find ways to succeed despite any limitations.
Stankoven has been an energizer for Carolina this season, having career highs with 21 goals, 23 assists, & 44 points in 81 games this season.
Acquired by Carolina from Dallas in the Mikko Rantanen trade, Stankoven has found a place in the Canes top-six, his diminutive frame not keeping him from a proper lineup spot.
It's a message to the rest of the league that it's not entirely useless to give chances to smaller talent, but also that those like Stankoven can be winning players despite their height.
Stankoven's success should be a sign for the Leafs management to not repeat a Treliving-era mistake
Under the Brad Treliving era, size was a major factor in roster construction, and this season was the realization of Treliving's big, physical lineup.
That's not to say that the attempts to create a largely skilled roster with smaller players as done by Treliving's predecessor, Kyle Dubas, is the answer instead.
A team will want to meet down the middle. Having players with size who bring a physical edge and grit, but also undersized forwards who can use their mobility and deceptiveness to create with the puck.
Players like Stankoven and Lane Hutson came outside the first round of the NHL Draft. Not every player under 6'0 is a Hutson or Stankoven, but when they are, they're forced to earn it.
At the end of the Treliving era, Toronto made an unexpected move in signing 5'8 defenseman Vinny Borgesi. Unlikely to be Hutson, Borgesi istill an example of the ability of small players to advance their game to pro quality.
Being under 6'0 shouldn't be the hindrance Brad Ttreliving treated it as. The next Leafs GM, whoever that may be, needs to avoid being a Treliving or Dubas when it comes to size, but able to meet the roster down the middle in blending size and skill.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
An insider guaranteeing Toronto’s poaching their new GM from the Bruins is the perfect Fraser Minten payback
An insider guaranteeing Toronto’s poaching their new GM from the Bruins is the perfect Fraser Minten payback
Previously on Hockey Patrol