As the NHL continues to evolve into a speed game on every shift, clubs are placing greater value on defensemen who can keep up with these burners.
At the NHL entry draft in Dallas, a record 14 blueliners were chosen in Friday's first round. (Note: 13 defensemen were selected in 2012 in the pre-Vegas days when the league sported 30 teams.)
Only five of those defensemen drafted Friday stand taller than 6 feet.
Lumbering crease-clearers are headed for extinction. Of course, the Victor Hedman types, with both size and skating ability, are precious, which is why Rasmus Dahlin was chosen first overall by the Sabres on Friday and the Capitals got John Carlson's signature on an eight-year, $64 million extension Sunday before he could hit free agency.
The Devils, who had the No. 1 overall selection last year (taking center Nico Hischier), don't have anyone of that caliber on their roster or in their pipeline, which is what can happen when a franchise hasn't drafted a defenseman in the first round since 2011.
They still don't, despite making a strong selection on Friday at No. 17 in Ty Smith, an 18-year-old defenseman from Spokane of the Western Hockey League who is known for his hockey sense.
At 5 feet 10 inches and 176 pounds, Smith will first need his brawn to catch up to his brain in order to succeed at the NHL level.
I'm not knocking the pick, since many mock drafts had him going earlier, with some thinking he could have been taken with one of the Islanders' slots at 11 or 12. Smith was ranked higher than bulkier candidates such as K'Andre Miller (22nd overall to the Rangers) and Bode Wilde (41st overall to the Islanders).
The only question mark, though, isn't Smith's NHL readiness -- Hischier and second overall selection Nolan Patrick were the only 2017 first-rounders to make at least 10 NHL appearances last season -- it's that most experts project his size will limit his ceiling to top-four potential rather than top pair.
Skating fast is certainly a job requirement, but big and fast are even better. Of the league's top-20 ice-time leaders, only Minnesota's Jared Spurgeon is listed at under 6 feet tall.
Last season, New Jersey's biggest guys on the blue line were either too soft (Daman Severson, Mirco Mueller and unrestricted free agent John Moore) or too slow (Ben Lovejoy) to consistently play hard minutes against the league's best players.
Instead, the Devils relied a lot on their mighty mites, sub-6-foot defensemen that included top-pair anchors Andy Greene and Sami Vatanen, who combined excellent skating and hockey IQ with high-octane motors. Will Butcher, who had a nice rookie campaign last season in handpicked minutes on the third pair, also fits that style.
While the team had a successful season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2012, its possession metrics were generally low. The 44-29-9 Devils were outscored 167-160 five-on-five.
In the Devils' five-game first-round playoff loss to Tampa Bay, the proximate cause was their graciousness in front of their own net.
Greene in particular struggled in the postseason. He was minus-four while also on the ice for three goals against while the Devils were short-handed. His Corsi and high-danger percentages were the worst on the team, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
My guess is that the Devils view Smith as a potential successor to Greene, who has seen his game gradually lose effectiveness with age. The captain's ice time has decreased in each of the last five seasons. Greene, 35, has two more seasons to go on his $5 million AAV contract.
Like Greene, Smith is a left-handed shot who can either skate or pass the puck out of danger. Smith was adept in all situations in juniors, recording 27 of his 73 points on the power play.
While Smith develops, Devils general manager Ray Shero will have a hard time finding a bridge. With Carlson off the market, the free agent pickings are slim. When the calendar turns to July, Shero would be wise to steer clear of long-term deals to those on the wrong side of 30.
I like Calvin de Haan, whose season in Brooklyn was cut short due to shoulder injuries, but only as insurance if Moore bolts.
Unfortunately, top-pair defensemen with size and skill do not grow on trees. To the contrary, it is increasingly becoming the league's most valued commodity.
It doesn't make Smith a bad pick, but it doesn't solve the Devils' biggest need.
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