Power Forward Ranking #2

[RapidKnight]

Ovechkin takes the first spot. Moving on to number two…

Choose the 2nd best power forward today. Use any criteria. Remember just because they’re on the list doesn’t mean you should consider them a power forward. The beautiful thing about this poll is it is compiling opinions. Please debate.

1

Alexander Ovechkin

I will add any player but please make it clear. “If Player A is on the list you might as well add Player B” will not result in an addition. The additions are up to you. Add requests will be totaled. Once a player is added they will not be removed under the condition they are receiving a substantial amount of votes.

To add:
Anderson (1)
Bennett (1)
M. Foligno (1)
Marchment (1)
Jeannot (0)

Click to read more...

 

[NyQuil]

Brady Tkachuk slightly ahead of Andrei Svechnikov (who incidentally I think may be the better player but not the better power forward IMO).

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Brady Tkachuk slightly ahead of Andrei Svechnikov (who incidentally I think may be the better player but not the better power forward IMO).

Feel the same way.

 

[NyQuil]

If Tage Thompson would use that frame of his...

 

[zenthusiast]

If Tage Thompson would use that frame of his...

Look, I’ll be happy if he decides to use his brain

 

[NyQuil]

Look, I’ll be happy if he decides to use his brain

Regardless of whether he's ever really physical, he'll still have that stick and reach which is nuts.

 

[triggrman]

So really this is a "big guy that scores" poll.

 

[DJJones]

God, really shows how weak power forwards are

Half these guys I don't even consider power forwards. Like Miller and Matthew Tkachuk?

 

[NyQuil]

So really this is a "big guy that scores" poll.

It's not a "It should be Jeannot because he plays for my team" poll.

 

[Jee]

I don't so many power forwards on that list

 

[triggrman]

It's not a "It should be Jeannot because he plays for my team" poll.

Show me where I voted for him?

I mean if you're getting outhit by Tolvanen, are you really that physical?

 

[NyQuil]

Show me where I voted for him?

I mean if you're getting outhit by Tolvanen, are you really that physical?

Depends on whether the hitting stats are normalized.

 

[triggrman]

Depends on whether the hitting stats are normalized.

Basically we just have way different definitions of power forwards.

 

[NyQuil]

Basically we just have way different definitions of power forwards.

From Wikipedia based on a bunch of different references:

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]

 

[triggrman]

From Wikipedia based on a bunch of different references:

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]

so how many of the guys on this list willing engage in fights, or have high totals of penalties?

 

[NyQuil]

so how many of the guys on this list willing engage in fights, or have high totals of penalties?

Depends on whether you mean relative to the average NHL player in this era or are using some kind of baseline threshold value.

Either:

(a) There just aren't that many power forwards anymore because fighting has gone down and penalties unrelated to the run of play are frowned upon.

OR

(b) There are still power forwards only their raw totals will be less relatively speaking because the era has changed.

I get what you're saying though.

I constantly had to argue with people who tried characterizing Dany Heatley as a power forward. He was a sniper with a big frame who rarely laid the body to any significant degree.

Meanwhile, for another Ottawa example, Drake Batherson plays big, is aggressive and hits and scores, but isn't much of a fighter (if at all), so I'm not sure if that disqualifies him.

 

[triggrman]

Depends on whether you mean relative to the average NHL player in this era or are using some kind of baseline threshold value.

Either:

(a) There just aren't that many power forwards anymore because fighting has gone down and penalties unrelated to the run of play are frowned upon.

OR

(b) There are still power forwards only their raw totals will be less relatively speaking because the era has changed.

I get what you're saying though.

I constantly had to argue with people who tried characterizing Dany Heatley as a power forward. He was a sniper with a big frame who rarely laid the body to any significant degree.

Meanwhile, for another Ottawa example, Drake Batherson plays big, is aggressive and hits and scores, but isn't much of a fighter (if at all), so I'm not sure if that disqualifies him.

I mean some of the guys on this list aren't even in the top 100 in hits. That doesn't scream physical to me and to me if you're playing physical enough to be a power forward you're going to at least get into a couple scraps a year, right?

Sorry, I can't type

 

[NyQuil]

I mean some of the guys on this list aren't even in the top 100 in hits. That doesn't scream physical to me and to me if you're playing physical enough to be a power forward you're going to at least get into a couple scraps a year, right?

The hit stat is a bit wonky when it goes from arena to arena but in general I agree with you.

Having a big frame and protecting the puck well (e.g. Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux) does not make you a power forward even if it requires some physical attributes and makes you hard to play against.

You have to be initiating contact regularly while also scoring goals and occasionally fighting.

Goals seem to matter more in this definition because assists are viewed as finesse plays for some reason, probably because you tend to score more closely to the net where it's more physical.

I'm trying to think of a power forward who was also known for assists more so than goals.

 

[swiftwin]

I still maintain that Matthew Tkachuk is not a power forward.

 

[RapidKnight]

Bump. I need more adds people. Speak or deal with the poll options.

 

[RapidKnight]

From Wikipedia based on a bunch of different references:

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]

Key word: Loosely applied. All players are a power forward to some degree. Instead of trying to define an abstract concept this would go much smoother if everyone stated why Player X is a weak power forward and moved on. Thank you @NyQuil

 

[Weltschmerz]

If Tage Thompson would use that frame of his...

Tuch is more of a power forward dann Tage, not sure why he is not there as an add at least.

 

[Asymmetric Solution]

Add Alex Tuch

 

[Ace]

No Tuch?

LOL

 

[RapidKnight]

No Tuch?

LOL

That’s what happens when you let Casper vote for you.