Who are the 10 tallest NHL players currently? A ranked list

Whenever a listicle ranks some of the tallest or shortest athletes in the sports arena, the most pronounced ones are usually the basketball, netball, and volleyball players, among others. But did you know height matters too in hockey? Below is a detailed list displaying some of the tallest NHL players in history.

Most people would assume that hockey players' only vital physical feature is a large body build, but height and weight are some of the other factors these athletes consider. While the tallest NHL players of all time are not necessarily the best on the pitch, their size provides a distinct advantage over their peers.

Tallest NHL players as of 2023

Statistically, there are only 34 current players in the arena over 6 feet 4 inches, and all of them tower over their opponents, including Zdeno Chara, who, at 6'9", is the tallest NHL player right now. After an in-depth analysis, Sports Brief has compiled a list displaying the tallest NHL players' heights in feet. Some of these athletes are long retired while others are still active.

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NHL

10. Brian Boyle

• Full name: Brian Paul Boyle
• Date of birth: 18 December 1984
• Age: 38 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 7 inches or 201 centimetres or 2.01 metres
• Position: Centre
• Team(s): Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, and Pittsburgh Penguins

At the tenth position sits Boyle, an American pro ice hockey centre who is presently a free agent as of July 2023. He was drafted into the arena in 2003 by the Los Angeles Kings. He is among the tallest active NHL players on the list.

9. Hal Gill

• Full name: Harold Priestley Gill III
• Date of birth: 6 April 1975
• Age: 48 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 7 inches or 201 centimetres or 2.01 metres
• Position: Defense
• Team(s): Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Lukko

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The 6 feet 7 inches athlete, Hal Gill, is an American-based former pro ice hockey defenseman who, at his height, ranks him among the tallest NHL players ever. He played for 16 seasons with 6 different squads before retiring in 2015. To date, he is still remembered for winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. As of 2 July 2023, he is a co-host of Predators Live on Bally Sports.

8. Jamie Oleksiak

• Full name: Jamieson Oleksiak
• Date of birth: 21 December 1992
• Age: 30 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 7 inches or 201 centimetres or 2.01 metres
• Position: Defence
• Team(s): Seattle Kraken, Dallas Stars, and Pittsburgh Penguins

Famously dubbed Big Rig, Jamieson is a Canadian-based professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Seattle Kraken. The 6'7" athlete debuted professionally after being selected 14th overall in the first round of the 2011 Entry Draft by the Stars.

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7. Chris Breen

• Full name: Christopher Breen
• Date of birth: 29 June 1989
• Age: 34 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 7 inches or 201 centimetres or 2.01 metres
• Position: Defence
• Team(s): Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins

Another Canadian on the list is Christopher Breen, who was not drafted and was part of the Calgary Flames in 2010. The defenceman then debuted professionally in 2013 with the same team. During his season with the Flames, he also had a short stint with the Boston Bruins as a free agent.

6. Derek Boogaard

• Full name: Derek Leendert Boogaard
• Date of birth: 23 June 1982
• Age: Died at 13 May 2011
• Height: 6 feet 7 inches or 201 centimetres or 2.01 metres
• Position: Left wing
• Team(s): Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers

At the sixth position sits the late Derek Boogard, a former Canadian pro ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers. He was considered one of the tallest NHL players to ever play the game at a height of 6 feet 7 inches. Unfortunately, he passed away on 13 May 2011 following an accidental excessive consumption of various types of alcohol.

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5. Joe Finley

• Full name: Joseph Scott Finley
• Date of birth: 29 June 1987
• Age: 36 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 7 inches or 201 centimetres or 2.01 metres
• Position: Defence
• Team(s): Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and HIFK

Joseph Scott Finley is an American-based former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 21 games with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders between 2011 and 2013. The rest of his career lasted from 2009 to 2018 and was spent in minor leagues and ended with three seasons with HIFK in the Finnish Liiga.

4. John Scott

• Full name: John Howard Scott
• Date of birth: 26 September 1982
• Age: 40 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 8 inches or 203 centimetres or 2.03 metres
• Position: Defence
• Team(s): Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild

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John Howard Scott is a Canadian former pro ice hockey defenceman and left winger who played in the league for almost ten seasons. He was considered one of the tallest NHL players during his playing career. He retired in 2016.

3. Tyler Myers

• Full name: Tyler Paul Myers
• Date of birth: 1 February 1990
• Age: 33 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 8 inches or 203 centimetres or 2.03 metres
• Position: Defence
• Team(s): Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks

If you were asked what the tallest hockey player was ten years ago, Tyler Paul Myers topped the list at 6 feet 8 inches. But even though he ranks third, he is still considered one of the tallest hockey players in the world. Famously dubbed The Big Easy, the 33-year-old pro ice hockey defenceman plays for the Vancouver Canucks. He was drafted 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

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2. Andrej Sustr

• Full name: Andrej Sustr
• Date of birth: 29 November 1990
• Age: 32 years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 8 inches or 203 centimetres or 2.03 metres
• Position: Left wing
• Team(s): Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild

Another player standing at 6 feet 8 inches is Andrej Sustr, a Czech-based pro ice hockey defenceman who is a part of the American Hockey League, AHL for the Iowa Wild, and plays with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League. He is among the tallest active NHL players on the list as of 2023.

1. Zdeno Chara

• Full name: Zdeno Chara
• Date of birth: 18 March 1977
• Age: years of age as of July 2023
• Height: 6 feet 8 inches or 203 centimetres or 2.03 metres
• Position: Left wing
• Team(s): Sparta Praha, New York Islanders, Dukla Trenčín, Ottawa Senators, Färjestad BK, Boston Bruins, Lev Praha, and Washington Capitals

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Chara is a former Slovakian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for 24 seasons in the league with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Washington Capitals between 1997 and 2022. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches, he is the tallest person ever to play in the sport's history.

Who are the top 5 shortest NHL players as of 2023?

Below is a list of the shortest hockey players to ever play in the league.

1. Cole Caufield - 5 feet 7 inches or 170 centimetres

2. Alex DeBrincat - 5 feet 7 inches or 170 centimetres

3. Mats Zuccarello - 5 feet 8 inches or 173 centimetres

4. Yanni Gourde - 5 feet 9 inches or 175 centimetres

5. Jared Spurgeon - 5 feet 9 inches or 175 centimetres

The tallest NHL players in the world include Zdeno Chara and Andrej Sustr. These are sportspersons with stunning heights above 6 feet, and their heights define them as giants of the game.

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READ ALSO: Here is a list of famous athletes who became politicians

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While many professional footballers decide to relax and reap the fruits of their careers, these players decided to change the political structure of their respective countries. Find more info by clicking on the link above.