Gardiens de but du Québec; D's from NA farms, C's from NCAA, Euro Wingers...

[charles]

Anyone have any theories as to why certain regions of the world and certain career paths are most likely to generate NHL level talent at certain positions?

I have not scoured rosters or anything, and there are no actual numbers to back this up, and there are plenty of elite counterexamples to the suggested pattern, but, does anyone else have a sort of subconscious bias toward guys from certain places?

I know if I hear a frenchy last name on a goalie, I immediately take him seriously; I hope half of my defensive corps comprises Alberta farmboys; I want my centers to have been forced to play 2-way games in college hockey; and I assume most europeans choose speed and precision over grinding and contact, and as such, are better suited for wing snipers.

OK, I've laid out my outlandish theory, now pick it apart. Mods feel free to move to another forum if necessary.

[236nOT]

A lot of it has to do with the length and type of practice in certain regions.

In Europe practice is usually four hours long, in North America it's closer to two. Europeans become more skilled with a greater amount of practice and Americans routinely play with more intensity because of the intensity of practice. Thus NHL teams draft Europeans for their skill (likely forward positions) and North Americans for their grit.


As for goaltending I have a personal theory. In general I would consider French Canadians to be more European and Fins to be more North American. As a result of counter culture or whatever these teams have adopted these traits strategically (for Finland to beat Sweden, for Quebec to be different than Ontario). But if you look, these two regions produce the best goaltenders, it must be because they play a hybrid system and are most familiar with the hybrid style of hockey played in the NHL.

[Wolvie]

It may be a bit chicken-and-the-egg as well these days.

I imagine that if you grew up watching so-and-so from your motherland, you'd find playing that position a bit more attractive or even glamorous growing up. If you grew up idolizing fellow countryman Jari Kurri, maybe you'd want to be a winger just like him. If you're a French-Canadian kid in Quebec, maybe you idolized Patrick Roy.

It's an interesting question, and I doubt that's close to the entire answer, but I suspect there's something to it.

[charles]

I think both of you made great points and I'd love to read what others have to write.