The Question
1,064 games. That is how many consecutive NHL games Phil Kessel played on his way to holding the all time NHL iron man streak. According to hockey lore, when confronted with the possibility of not being allowed to drink soda in the locker room, Kessel threatened to forgo the rest of his $56 million extension. Despite not being known as the stereotypical conditioning obsessed athlete, Kessel put together one of the most enduring careers in hockey history. Between November 3, 2009, and April 13, 2023, he did not miss a single game, on top of a 17 season NHL career.
This raises the question: what leads to longevitiy in the NHL?
Beloved for its blue collar spirit, board shattering hits, and MMA worthy fights, hockey is one of the most physically taxing sports. To stay in the league players must put up with the physical demands and aging, while also continuing to produce. Some players play for more than two decades and others’ careers end much sooner.
Teams invest millions in player development and players dedicate their lives to the sport often forgoing other opportunities to pursue their dreams.
Therefor it is important to investigate:
What factors are associated with longer career?
Within that we will explore:
Do certain positions tend to produce longer careers than others?
Does player size, such as height and weight have an association with longer careers?
Does play type, ie “high-skilled” or “physical”, have an affect on longevity?
Does ice time affect the length of careers?