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Does height still matter for NHL draft prospects?

For years, Yanni Gourde and players like him have constantly faced questions about whether they were too small to reach the NHL.

After more than 450 games, nearly 300 points, two Stanley Cups and $34.7 million in career earnings, the 5-foot-9 Seattle Kraken forward has a question of his own: Why are we still talking about this obsession people have with height?

"I don't see why we are still asking this question," Gourde said. "There are so many people that have proved them wrong. It's not about the size anymore. It's about your willingness.