Are Power Forwards a dying breed?

[Guest micah]

I caught a "top 10 power foarwards of the '90s" show on NHL Network over the weekend. It wasn't a great show, but it did feature a lot of my favorite players, and certainly my favorite type of player; guys who are strong, gritty, offensively skilled, and not afraid to mix it up with players who are 30lbs heavier than they are but nowhere near as skilled. These were men who are good at every part of the game.

Shanahan, Neely, Roberts, Tocchet, Lindros, Tkachuk, Nolan, etc. Before them came guys like Clark Gillies and even Detroit's own Gerard Gallant.

Those guys were truly badass, and also often the best players on their teams. True do-it-all guys. Are there any PFs left in the league? Shanahan and Tkachuk don't really play that game anymore.

Guys who I thought of as possibly being modern PFs:

Milan Lucic (natch)

Alexandre Burrows?

Scott Hartnell?

steve Ott?

Brandon Dubinsky?

What say you all? Are blue-collar lunchbucket guys who will beat you on the scoreboard and beat you with their fists extinct? Why or why not? Also, is there anyone out there except me that thinks that these type of players - power forwards from about 1982-ish through maybe 1997-ish - were the most relatable, most enjoyable hockey players ever?

[Swayze 81]

- Lucic, definitely.

- As much as I hate to say it, Getzlaf and Perry are.

- Penner was supposed to become one too before he got traded to Edmonton then kinda faded away.

- Iginla could fit the criteria somewhat.

- Byfuglein?

[dat's sick 1,002]

If you have to be a fighter to be called a Power-forward, then I guess they're probably a dying breed. Not many teams want their star players to drop their gloves constantly.

I think there are power-forwards in the league. I'd call Franzen a PF, but I'm guessing you wouldn't.

[zata20 4]

Rick Nash. Guy who is big, not a afraid to through his body around, drives hard to the net, and scores goals. Too me Nash is the definition of a Power Forward. Defintetly a guy who uses his size to create space on the ice.

[b.shanafan14 733]

There are a few Power Forwards, but not any Shanahans anymore. Lucic more than any other player is an old fashioned Power Forward. These days "power forward" is a word tossed around to any player who is big and skilled, ala Franzen or Jumbo Joe. But there are very few in the traditional way we've known it, Shanny in his prime being damn near the best I've ever personally see play.

In Shanny's prime, he could score at will, run defensemen in the corners, dig around the crease, and had a temper which allowed for plenty a match of fisticuffs. Lucic is the only player that really jumps out at me in that mold these days, with nowhere near the release of Shanahan (his quick release is trumped in my mind only by Brett Hull in the same era).

Players are getting bigger and strong these days, but the talent pool is skill oriented and the game has changed to make size and sandpaper less of a requirement and more of a nice bonus. I'd be surprised if there was ever another power forward of the old school definition who was as elite as Shanahan or Tkachuk or Lindros.

[BlakKy 58]

Getzlaf, Nash and Iginla are all great examples.

Lucic too.

[b.shanafan14 733]

Yeah, Iginla and Getzlaf I'd say. Nash is a power forward like Franzen or Hossa are. Perry is too much of a damn rat.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Getzlaf and Iginla would be guys I'd include. Not Burrows, he's just a ***** through and through, couldnt even beat himself up.

[Guest micah]

Getslaf and Iginla certainly are, agreed.

Franzen is the softest player his size in the lague. He is not a power forward.

Perry is a skilled weasel, but not a power forward. I don't believe the guy has ever won a fight in his carreer. There is nobody in the league afraid of that guy.

For my money, there were no hockey players better to watch than a prime Neely and a prime Shanahan.

Even though he's a shaddow of his former self, and isn't a real PF anymore, Shanny gets huge points ion my book for challenging Brashear 2 years back. Brash is among the league's toughest, and Shanahan was an old man coasting out his carreer looking to chip in a few goals here and there and fill a leadership roll. When Brashear was taking liberties was the Rangers, Shanny stood up for his team - even though he had every reason to expect to get broken in half by the much bigger, much stronger, younger, tougher enforcer Brashear. Balls of steel on Shanahan. I wish there were more men like him in the league - they're great for the game.

Edited June 29, 2009 by micah

[Guest micah]

If you have to be a fighter to be called a Power-forward, then I guess they're probably a dying breed. Not many teams want their star players to drop their gloves constantly.

I think there are power-forwards in the league.

They don't have to drop their gloves constantly - none of the players I mentioned fought more than 10 times a year consistantly throughout their carreers. You do have to be willing and able to fight to be a power forward though. I expect power forwards to be spot-pickers. They aren't just there to fight....but when they turn down fights it's because that fight is not in the best interest of the team at that momment, not because they're scared.

Shanahan. Iginla. Neely. Franzen. One doesn't belong.

[BlakKy 58]

The power forwards that many of us fell in love with throughout the 80's/90's are a dying breed...To me it seems there's alot more focus on skill/hockey sense in youth hockey, and alot less of the "old-school" attitude.

Just to add a few more to the list; Shayne Corson, Randy McKay, and Dale Hunter.

Dale Hunter is/was a flaming ******. No ethics or brain activity to speak of. Mentioning him in the same thread as Shanahan, Neely and Iginla is wrong.

[HenryMalredo 2]

The power forwards that many of us fell in love with throughout the 80's/90's are a dying breed...To me it seems there's alot more focus on skill/hockey sense in youth hockey, and alot less of the "old-school" attitude.

Just to add a few more to the list; Shayne Corson, Randy McKay, and Dale Hunter.

Corson, McKay, and Hunter were never really true power forwards. They were tough, grinding forwards who could chip in offensively, but they weren't the big time scorers that guys like Cam Neely were.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Shanahan. Iginla. Neely. Franzen. One doesn't belong.

That's racist.

[Guest micah]

Let's not forget Bob Probert, 62 points and 398 PIMs in '86, then breaking Howe's Red wings playoff scoring reccord was pretty f'n sick. It's too bad he never had another year comparable to that one.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I'd call Franzen a PF, but I'm guessing you wouldn't.

There is more to being a power forward than size. You actually have to use it.

[dat's sick 1,002]

There is more to being a power forward than size. You actually have to use it.

I think he does. He could definitely be more physical with that big body, but when he takes the puck to the net, runs over the goalie and scores he looks like a power forward to me.

To me, if Getzlaf and Iginla are power forwards then it's definitely debatable whether or not Franzen is one.

[skacore 2]

I think you have to kind of accept the fact that not all big guys in this league will fight in today's game, but a guy can still demand respect on the ice in other ways. Rick Nash is a prime example of a power forward in today's game, if you leave him off your list then your list is simply wrong. He uses his body to create scoring opportunities more than anyone else in the league right now.

Rick Nash

Ryan Getzlaf

Milan Lucic

Dustin Byfuglien

Bobby Ryan

Ryan Malone

Dustin Brown

Anthony Stewart/Chris Stewart

I think there are a lot of up and coming guys like the Stewart brothers who could be mentioned but haven't done enough to deserve it yet

[HenryMalredo 2]

I honestly don't think there were/are today the types of players out there that could score/play physical/fight like Neely...Shanahan, Clark, Roberts, and Messier are the only ones that were close.

The 3 I mentioned earlier def didn't have the scoring touch as Neely, but were sure game for a scrap, and could get 20 plus goals per season...I'd take these 3 guys on my team anytime!

Yeah, there are very few power forwards left in the game. A guy like Iginla, who is a big-time scorer, yet plays a tough game, is one of the few that are around. Overall, a power forward is big game scorer, who also plays with a physical element. Guys like McKay and Corson were grinders with a better scoring touch, not enough game-changing talent or scoring ability to be true power forwards.

[drwscc 212]

That's racist.

I LOL'd

[Guest micah]

I think Nash is a PF. He's got everything, the skill, the points, the size, the attitude, the willingness and ability to fight when it's the right thing to do.

Cue up the vid of Rick Nash engaging Jim Vensermeer, and then Johan Franzen and Jim Vandermeer. The difference in the player's attitudes should be clear.

"I LOL'd"

So did I.

Edited June 29, 2009 by micah

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

to add to the list, not already mentioned...

guys who are:

eric staal, jason arnott,

guys who are on their way:

paul gaustad, trent hunter (once he has help and health),

honorable mentions for the future:

nathan horton, travis zajac, peter mueller

there's still power forwards, but the game is more about speed these days.

[Gutierrez 7]

I think for a few years while he was in Vancouver, Todd Bertuzzi fit the mold of power forward perfectly. Getzlaf reminds me a lot of him for those couple years except I think Getzlaf is a little more skilled and more dominant.

[p_diddy_datsyuk_13 2]

- Lucic, definitely.

- As much as I hate to say it, Getzlaf and Perry are.

- Penner was supposed to become one too before he got traded to Edmonton then kinda faded away.

- Iginla could fit the criteria somewhat.

- Byfuglein?

Perry, no. Power forwards use their size and POWER to create scoring chances, Perry tends to just aimlessly throw his weight around.

Some of todays true power forwards:

Getzlaf

Franzen

Rick Nash

Byfuglien

Thornton (Though he doesn't use his size to his advantage as much as he could, he is still a big, gritty, offensively gifted player)

Players who are developing into power forwards:

Lucic (was great in the playoffs, more offensive production next year will solidify him, as it did with Franzen this past year)

Dustin Brown (L.A.) (He is only 6ft tall, though)

David Backes (St. L) (30 goals helped his case this year)

Bobby Ryan (Ana)

Carter (PHI)

Jordan Staal (he would flourish if he ever found the top line)

Kesler (Really started to show this potential in the playoffs)

Players who used to be (Still in NHL):

Shanahan

Bertuzzi (for a couple years, anyway)

Tkachuk

Smyth (when he was with the Oilers he was much better in this respect, never was a true PF though)

Arnott

Doan (never really got to show it off as he has played for the Coyotes franchise his whole career, when he was younger, he was overshadowed by Tkachuk)

[BeeRYCE 2]

There are tons, a bunch were named already. One was just drafted and is looked upon as the next big PF... Evander Kane. He's already working on building more muscle to become more effective, but he is still very effective right now in the WHL as a power forwards, and that's where a lot of them come from. Brayden Schenn should be good too.

[egroen 384]

Brendan Morrow fits the mold, IMO.