It’s tough for a guy of Rocco Grimaldi’s size to stick in the NHL. The one-time Florida Panther (drafted second round, 33rd overall, in 2011) has played in 41 career games, four this season with the Nashville Predators.
He’s still hunting for his first goal of the year (he has four in his career), but he achieved a personal milestone after Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Bruins: he went up against Zdeno Chara.
Grimaldi, 25, is the shortest player in league, at 5 feet 6 inches (and 180 pounds). He will remain so for the near future, perhaps until Columbus calls up ex-BC Eagle Nathan Gerbe (listed at 5-4, 176), currently captaining AHL Cleveland.