The New York Rangers' roster stands just over 6'1.5" on average put together. That includes having five players under 6'0".
Gabe Perreault, Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, Zac Jones and Brett Berard all make up the shorter end of the Rangers' roster. However, in terms of average height the Blueshirts are still above the league average of around 6'1.3" even with a player at 5'9". Suggesting that while the Rangers have a few players on the shorter side of the average NHL player (approximately 6'1"), they still have one of the taller rosters in the league.
But let's briefly run through the shorter Blueshirts and what they bring to the roster.
2. Gabe Perreault, Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, Zac Jones - 5'11"
When looking at the roster, I was actually quite surprised to see the number of athletes (four) on the Rangers' roster that were at the 5'11" mark.
The Forwards
For the forwards, both Vincent Trocheck and rookie Gabe Perreault are the shortest Blueshirts in that position group. Perreault doesn't really come as a surprise, since he's only 20-years-old and just hit Madison Square Garden straight from Boston College.
But Trocheck is one of the Rangers on the roster whose had his fair share of success; likely causing fans to overlook the fact that he's on the shorter side. But despite his height, he still managed to be the Rangers' No. 5 team leader with 59 points (26 goals and 33 assists).
Defenseman
Adam Fox and Zac Jones are also 5'11". They are also two of the Rangers most polarizing defensemen of the season.
Defenseman are usually taller than these two, averaging approximately 6'2" or taller. While Fox didn't necessarily underperform (61 points across 10 goals, 51 points), he's still one of the more disliked players across the fanbase. Perhaps his height plays into that?
Jones drew into the lineup in 25 of New York's first 31 games, sitting as a healthy scratch five times in a six-game stretch as the calendar flipped from October to November. His defense wasn't statistically perfect — bad pinches leading to odd-man rushes the other way were certainly commonplace for him.
But, he still managed to record 11 points. So, that's something I guess.
1. Brett Berard - 5'9"
As written earlier this month, Rhode Island native Brett Berard's production rate for 5-on-5 play was certainly more than decent despite his obstacle of being a 5'9" NHL player. He provided a nice spark with his high-energy, pesky play on both ends of the ice — finishing with six goals and four assists across 35 games played.
Perhaps where Berard makes up for being on the shorter side is through his agility and speed. Former Head Coach Peter Laviolette previously said that he "helps make a line very effective" through his forechecking and puck battles. What makes the left-wing's ability to get into puck battles so effectively is the fact that his speed has been a key component of his ability to attack the game.
His quickness and determination — which likely comes easier for him given his height or lack thereof — have made him a valuable asset on the Rangers' fourth line, contributing to the team's depth and energy.