Power forward (ice hockey)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexander Ovechkin, considered by many as one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history, is often described as a "power forward".

In ice hockey, power forward (PWF) is a loosely applied characterization of a forward who is big and strong, equally capable of playing physically or scoring goals and would most likely have high totals in both points and penalties.[1] It is usually used in reference to a forward who is physically large, with the toughness to dig the puck out of the corners, possesses offensive instincts, has mobility, puck-handling skills,[2][3] may be difficult to knock off the puck or to push away from the front of the goal[4] and willingly engage in fights when he feels it is required.[5] Possessing both physical size and offensive ability, power forwards are also often referred to as the 'complete' hockey player.[6][7]

Historically, power forward was not originally a hockey term, finding comparatively recent origins from basketball.[8][9] Harry Sinden, former president of the Boston Bruins, claims power forward first became part of hockey terminology because of the style of play of Cam Neely, an NHL player from 1983 to 1996, who could play ruggedly and also score goals.[7][10]

Punch Broadbent was one of the first players who pioneered the style before the NHL was founded in 1917,[11] while Charlie Conacher, Phil Esposito, Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard and Bert Olmstead are likewise considered quintessential examples of power forwards in the decades before the term entered hockey vernacular.[12][13][14][15]

NHL players described as power forwards[edit]

 †  Hockey Hall of Fame inductee

Player Career Ref
Josh Anderson 2014–present [16]
Nik Antropov 1996–2015 [17]
Jason Arnott 1993–2013 [18]
David Backes 2006–2021 [citation needed]
Jamie Benn 2009–present [19]
Todd Bertuzzi 1995–2014 [20]
David Booth 2006–2018 [citation needed]
Mel Bridgman 1975–1989
Punch Broadbent 1912–1929 [11]
Dustin Brown 2003–2022 [21]
Wendel Clark 1985–2000 [13][22][23]
Ryan Clowe 2003–2015 [24]
Erik Cole 2000–2015 [25]
Blake Coleman 2015–present [citation needed]
Charlie Conacher 1929–1941 [citation needed]
Shayne Corson 1985–2004 [26]
Geoff Courtnall 1983–2000
Kevin Dineen 1984–2002 [27]
Shane Doan 1995–2017 [28]
Gary Dornhoefer 1963–1978 [29]
Brandon Dubinsky 2006–2021 [citation needed]
Phil Esposito 1963–1981 [14]
Mike Fisher 1999–2018
Theoren Fleury 1988–2006 [citation needed]
Marcus Foligno 2009–present
Mike Foligno 1979–1994 [30]
Nick Foligno 2007–present [citation needed]
Peter Forsberg 1989–2011 [31]
Johan Franzen 1999–2016 [32]
Gerard Gallant 1984–1995 [33]
Ryan Getzlaf 2005–2022 [34]
Clark Gillies 1974–1988 [13][22][35]
Doug Gilmour 1983–2003
Tony Granato 1998–2001
Chris Gratton 1993–2009
Bill Guerin 1991–2010 [36]
Scott Hartnell 2000–2018 [37]
Bobby Holík 1990–2009
Tomas Holmström 1990–2012 [38]
Nathan Horton 2003–2014 [39]
Gordie Howe 1945–1971, 1973–1980 [12][13]
Dale Hunter 1980–1999 [citation needed]
Jarome Iginla 1996–2017 [5][10][22]
Jaromír Jágr 1990-2008, 2011–2018
Tanner Jeannot 2021–present
Nazem Kadri 2009-present
Evander Kane 2009–present [citation needed]
Tim Kerr 1980–1993 [10]
Ryan Kesler 2003–2019 [citation needed]
Mike Knuble 1995–2013 [40]
Ilya Kovalchuk 1999–present [41]
Chris Kreider 2012–present [42]
Chris Kunitz 2003–2019 [citation needed]
Andrew Ladd 2005–present [citation needed]
Gabriel Landeskog 2011–present [43]
John LeClair 1991–2006 [44]
Anders Lee 2013–present [45]
Trevor Linden 1988–2008
Eric Lindros 1992–2007 [10][22][46]
Milan Lucic 2007–present [22][47]
Evgeni Malkin 2003–present [48]
Ryan Malone 2003–2015, 2017 [49]
Patrick Maroon 2008–present [50]
Randy McKay 1988–2003 [51]
Scott Mellanby 1986–2007 [52]
Mark Messier 1978–2004 [10][53]
Brenden Morrow 1999–2015 [54]
Rick Nash 2002–2018 [55]
James Neal 2008–present [56]
Cam Neely 1983–1996 [7][13][22][57]
Owen Nolan 1990–2011 [58]
Eddie Olczyk 1984–2000
Bert Olmstead 1948–1962 [15]
Joel Otto 1984–1998
Alex Ovechkin 2005–present [59][60]
Cedric Paquette 2013–present [citation needed]
Michael Peca 1993–2009
Dustin Penner 2005–2014 [61]
Willi Plett 1975–1988 [62]
Alexei Ponikarovsky 1998–2018 [63]
Keith Primeau 1990–2005 [64]
Ryan Reaves 2010–present [citation needed]
Maurice Richard 1942–1960 [65]
Mike Richards 2005–2016 [citation needed]
Nick Ritchie 2015–present [66]
Gary Roberts 1986–2009 [67]
Tomas Sandstrom 1982–2002 [68]
Al Secord 1978–1990, 1994–1996 [22]
Brendan Shanahan 1987–2009 [10][13][22][69]
Wayne Simmonds 2008–present [70]
Ryan Smyth 1994–2014 [71]
Kevin Stevens 1987–2002 [10][72]
Mats Sundin 1989–2009 [73]
Andrei Svechnikov 2018–present
Brady Tkachuk 2018–present [74]
Keith Tkachuk 1991–2010 [10][22]
Matthew Tkachuk 2016–present [citation needed]
Rick Tocchet 1984–2002 [10][22]
Rick Vaive 1979–1992 [57]
Pat Verbeek 1982–2002 [citation needed]
Blake Wheeler 2008–present [75]
Tom Wilson 2013–present [76]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Diamond, Dan (1998). Total Hockey: the Official Encyclopedia of the National Hockey League. Andrews McMeel Publisher. p. 619. ISBN 0-8362-7114-9.
  2. ^ "Hockey Terms". Southern Professional Hockey League. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  3. ^ Dolezar, Jon A. (June 14, 2003). "Looks can be deceiving: Steve Bernier". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  4. ^ Nichols, Chris (Sep 9, 2009). "Discounted Price". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  5. ^ a b LaPointe, Joe (April 27, 2004). "Hockey; Calgary's Captain Courageous". New York Times. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  6. ^ Greene, Colleen (Dec 26, 2006). "Blackhawks AHL prospects update: Troy Brouwer". Hockeysfuture.com. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c Allen, Kevin (June 9, 2005). "Hall of Fame-bound Bruin star Neely defined 'power forward'". USA Today. p. C6.
  8. ^ "definition of power forward". Random House. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  9. ^ Montgomery, Ted (Dec 3, 2008). "Some hockey lingo deserves a spot in the penalty box". USA Today. Retrieved Jan 24, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i "All-time power forwards". The Hockey News. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Broadbent, Punch -- Biography -- Honoured Player -- Legends of Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Cole, Cam (June 12, 2016). "Gordie Howe impacted the game of hockey like no other". Toronto Sun. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Melrose, Barry (October 16, 2011). "Who are the greatest power forwards of all time?". NHL.com. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Ken Campbell ranks the Top 100 NHL players of all time
  15. ^ a b "Bert Olmstead - Bio, pictures, stats and more". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  16. ^ Julian McKenzie (January 14, 2021). "'Josh Anderson is exactly the 'power horse' Canadiens have needed for ages". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "Leafs Sign Antropov to Extension".
  18. ^ "Arnott has evolved into true leader".
  19. ^ "Stars' fortunes in series could hinge on Benn's success". 26 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Best of Everything: Power Forward". 22 December 2003.
  21. ^ "Los Angeles Kings' Dustin Brown Enjoying Career Renaissance". The Hockey Writers. October 20, 2017.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Muir, Allan (March 6, 2013). "Top 10 NHL Power Forwards Of All Time". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  23. ^ "Wendel Clark: The Code a 'blurred line' in hockey".
  24. ^ "Devils F Ryane Clowe's playing career is over due to concussions". 11 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Dallas Stars Acquire Erik Cole from Montreal in Exchange for Micheal Ryder and Dallas' Third-Round Pick in 2013".
  26. ^ "Shayne Corson - Bio, pictures, stats and more | Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens".
  27. ^ "Flyers A-Z: Dineen, Kevin". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  28. ^ "Consistency, longevity highlight Doan's NHL career".
  29. ^ "Heritage Night: Celebrating Flyers Hall of Famers".
  30. ^ "Foligno living up to family name".
  31. ^ "Forsberg, Peter -- Biography -- Honoured Player -- Legends of Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  32. ^ "NHL | Johan Franzen lifts Red Wings 4-3 over Avs". 25 April 2008.
  33. ^ "Canadiens name Gerard Gallant new assistant coach". The Globe and Mail. 15 June 2012.
  34. ^ Wigge, Larry (May 3, 2009). "Getzlaf gifted at finding second gear". NHL.com. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  35. ^ LaPointe, Joe (June 20, 2002). "Hockey;Gillies Heads the List Into the Hall of Fame". New York Times. Retrieved Jan 23, 2010.
  36. ^ Mallozzi, Vincent M. (22 November 1997). "HOCKEY; Guerin and Devils Finally Agree to a Deal". The New York Times.
  37. ^ "Hartnell: Big hair, big play".
  38. ^ "Report: Red Wings' Holmstrom set to retire". Sportsnet.ca. January 8, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  39. ^ "Blue Jackets agree to terms with forward Nathan Horton on a seven-year contract".
  40. ^ "Flyers A-Z: Knuble, Mike". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  41. ^ "Ilya Kovalchuk passes up chance at NHL history with early retirement". 12 July 2013.
  42. ^ "New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider is a Rare Scorer". Blue Line Station. December 9, 2016.
  43. ^ "Gabriel Landeskog Needs to Bring Back the Physicality". Fansided. December 10, 2018.
  44. ^ "John LeClair: A Prototypical Power Forward". The Hockey Writers. July 5, 2020.
  45. ^ "Anders Lee vs The Power Forward Decline". Fansided. December 10, 2020.
  46. ^ Dryden, Steve (November 13, 2014). "The cases for Eric Lindros and Don Baizley in the Hall of Fame". TSN.ca. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  47. ^ Ken Campbell. "One-on-One with Boston Bruins' Power Forward Milan Lucic". Hockey News. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
  48. ^ "Evgeni Malkin: 800 Games Later". The Hockey Writers. November 15, 2018.
  49. ^ "Ryan Malone has his eye on the NHL—or the Olympics". 11 September 2017.
  50. ^ "Patrick Maroon emerging as top power forward". Edmonton Sun. January 9, 2017.
  51. ^ Canfora, Jason La (2001-05-28). "Bourque Shoots For Final Goal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  52. ^ "Flyers A-Z: Mellanby, Scott". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  53. ^ Journal Wire Services (May 15, 1990). "Bruins Hoping for Revenge against Oilers". The Milwaukee Journal. p. c3.
  54. ^ "Allan Muir: Stars a work in progress". 22 April 2008.
  55. ^ "Rick Nash gives first hint at retirement". 29 June 2018.
  56. ^ "James Neal of Predators has 'extra motivation' against Penguins".
  57. ^ a b Looking back at five Canucks players whose departures hurt the most
  58. ^ Scianitti, Matthew (8 February 2012). "Owen Nolan announces retirement after 18-year NHL career". National Post.
  59. ^ "Roberto Luongo 'fine' after being steamrolled by Ovechkin". 4 January 2015.
  60. ^ "Florida Panthers' rally falls short as misery in Washington continues | The Miami Herald". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 2015-01-05.
  61. ^ "Edmonton Oilers forward Dustin Penner ready to build on 32-goal NHL season".
  62. ^ "Once a rugged power forward, Willi Plett still making living with his hands".
  63. ^ "Ponikarovsky a Leaf surrounded by the Maple Leaf".
  64. ^ Yannis, Alex (October 10, 1996). "Whalers Finally Trade Shanahan for Coffey". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  65. ^ "Maurice Richard: 100 Greatest NHL Players". NHL.com. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  66. ^ "Nick Ritchie is the Boston Bruins Not So Secret Weapon". Last Word on Sports. February 10, 2021.
  67. ^ "Roberts Putting Neck on the Line\".
  68. ^ "50 Forgotten Stories: 'Super Swede'". 6 January 2017.
  69. ^ "Former Red Wing Brendan Shanahan doesn't get into Hall of Fame; Adam Oates among four chosen". 26 June 2012.
  70. ^ "Flyers Sign Simmonds to Six-Year Extension".
  71. ^ "Los Angeles Kings acquire power forward Ryan Smyth from Avalanche". Canadian Press. NHL.com. July 4, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  72. ^ McMillan, Tom (Dec 25, 1991). "Money in the Bank". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D1.
  73. ^ Johnston, Mike (November 12, 2012). "HHOF: 12 interesting facts about Mats Sundin". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  74. ^ "Brady Tkachuk signs seven-year extension with Ottawa Senators". Sportsnet. October 14, 2021.
  75. ^ "Blake Wheeler reflects on 500 NHL games". Winnipeg Sun. January 18, 2015.
  76. ^ "Tom Wilson is redefining physical play in the NHL — one hit at a time".