When the Philadelphia Flyers selected forward Connor McClennon in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, things were more of the same but also different. With the stench of the COVID-19 global pandemic seeping through the cracks of every bit of news around hockey, a skilled undersized player dropping into the penultimate round of the draft was a nice reminder of the before times.
Whether you cite Chicago Blackhawks’ Alex DeBrincat or Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault, there are plenty of examples of talented, but at first, were under the mysterious six-foot requirement to be a forward in the NHL.