from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Twenty years ago, the NHL started tracking ice time. Since 1997-98, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, no team has ever paired two defensemen 5-9 or shorter on a penalty kill. The 1995-96 Sharks were the last team to dress two such blue liners: Tom Pederson and Vlastimil Kroupa, both 5-9. It is unknown if they killed together because ice time was not recorded.

Krug and Grzelcyk, both short, offensive-minded defensemen, are untraditional options as penalty killers. But pairing two defensemen with their skill sets on the kill may not be just a worst-case scenario.

“It just changes the dynamic,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We should be more aggressive, because you don’t want those guys battling in front. It can work in your favor. Z and Adam are more positionally big sticks, long sticks. Once they come in to you, look out, because they’re big bodies. Whereas the other guys are jumping you. I know it happens to our power play sometimes.”

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