Hockey is a fast paced hard-hitting sport and while there are no NFL sized tackles (up to 375 lbs) there are some very heavy men flying around the ice.
As of 2013, the average NHLer weighs in at 201.4 lbs ranging from a low if 157 lbs to a high of 270 lbs. It's safe to say at the speed and physicality of game that 157 pound player is doing everything he can to avoid the 270 pounder.
Compare this to 1990, when the average NHLer weighed in at 197.4 lbs with a range of 150 lbs to 247 lbs. While the average weight hasn't changed drastically, it has jumped at the higher end of the weight scale.
We dug deep into our player database to find the heaviest players to play in the NHL.
The Heaviest Player in NHL History
The heaviest player to play in the NHL is John Scott who weighs in at 270 lbs. The undrafted enforcer who has played as both a defenceman and winger has played for the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres.
Over his NHL career, which has spanned over 140 games, he has amassed over 230 penalty minutes and nearly 30 fights.
Heaviest Players Among Active NHLers
Top 10 Heaviest Players to Play Since 1990
- John Scott - 270 lbs
- Steve MacIntyre - 265 lbs
- Joe Finley - 260 lbs
- Mitch Fritz - 258 lbs
- Derek Boogaard - 257 lbs
- Dustin Byfuglien - 257 lbs
- Raitis Ivanans - 256 lbs
- Zdeno Chara - 255 lbs
- Kristian Kudroc - 255 lbs
- Evgeny Artyukhin - 255 lbs
Most of the players on the above list play limited enforcer roles, however, Zdeno Chara and Dustin Byfuglien are two players with significant size and skill. These two defenceman, who are both All-Stars and Stanley Cup Champions, have combined for over 1,500 NHL games.
While Chara and Byfuglien are outliers among NHL players with their size and skill it will be interesting if more and more players of over 250 lbs play in skill roles and for significant games.
Will we ever see a 300 lbs player? Doubtful, but you never know.