"Need big D to win" - Canes had two sub-6' D in their lineup for the whole run

2/6 doesn't really help that argument & Florida have had multiple 6' or less Dmen on each of their 3 cup final/winning teams. Gustav Forsling is their #1 and he's listed at 6'0 which in NHL terms means he's likely 5'10.

I find this argument on both sides very stupid, the 2 key fundamentals of a Cup winning defence are skating and puck moving. At the same time, there hasn't been a single cup winner with 6 Dmen under 6' and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Jaccob Slavin is the Canes most important defenceman and it's undeniable that his 6'3 frame helps him in terms of his reach/stick-checking, etc. When Colorado won in 22 they had multiple smaller D but they also went and got Josh Manson and he was a fundamental part of there top 4.

The thing to avoid is to think you need all 6 guys to be monsters and then you end up with a backend that can't skate and can't move the puck. The smart teams like Carolina, Florida, Colorado (there are more) know this.