# Power forward (ice hockey)

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. 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, may be difficult to knock off the puck or to push away from the front of the goal and willingly engage in fights when he feels it is required. Possessing both physical size and offensive ability, power forwards are also often referred to as the 'complete' hockey player.
Historically, power forward was not originally a hockey term, finding comparatively recent origins from basketball. 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.
Punch Broadbent was one of the first players who pioneered the style before the NHL was founded in 1917, 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.

## NHL players described as power forwards

† Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
| Player | Career |
| Josh Anderson | 2014–present |
| Nik Antropov | 1996–2015 |
| Jason Arnott | 1993–2013 |
| David Backes | 2006–2021 |
| Jamie Benn | 2009–present |
| Todd Bertuzzi | 1995–2014 |
| David Booth | 2006–2018 |
| Mel Bridgman | 1975–1989 |
| Punch Broadbent† | 1912–1929 |
| Dustin Brown | 2003–2022 |
| Wendel Clark | 1985–2000 |
| Ryan Clowe | 2003–2015 |
| Erik Cole | 2000–2015 |
| Blake Coleman | 2015–present |
| Charlie Conacher† | 1929–1941 |
| Shayne Corson | 1985–2004 |
| Geoff Courtnall | 1983–2000 |
| Kevin Dineen | 1984–2002 |
| Shane Doan | 1995–2017 |
| Gary Dornhoefer | 1963–1978 |
| Brandon Dubinsky | 2006–2021 |
| Phil Esposito† | 1963–1981 |
| Mike Fisher | 1999–2018 |
| Theoren Fleury | 1988–2006 |
| Marcus Foligno | 2009–present |
| Mike Foligno | 1979–1994 |
| Nick Foligno | 2007–present |
| Peter Forsberg† | 1989–2011 |
| Johan Franzen | 1999–2016 |
| Gerard Gallant | 1984–1995 |
| Ryan Getzlaf | 2005–2022 |
| Clark Gillies† | 1974–1988 |
| Doug Gilmour† | 1983–2003 |
| Tony Granato | 1998–2001 |
| Chris Gratton | 1993–2009 |
| Bill Guerin | 1991–2010 |
| Scott Hartnell | 2000–2018 |
| Bobby Holík | 1990–2009 |
| Tomas Holmström | 1990–2012 |
| Nathan Horton | 2003–2014 |
| Gordie Howe† | 1945–1971, 1973–1980 |
| Dale Hunter | 1980–1999 |
| Jarome Iginla† | 1996–2017 |
| Jaromír Jágr | 1990-2008, 2011–2018 |
| Tanner Jeannot | 2021–present |
| Nazem Kadri | 2009-present |
| Evander Kane | 2009–present |
| Tim Kerr | 1980–1993 |
| Ryan Kesler | 2003–2019 |
| Mike Knuble | 1995–2013 |
| Ilya Kovalchuk | 1999–2024 |
| Chris Kreider | 2012–present |
| Chris Kunitz | 2003–2019 |
| Andrew Ladd | 2005–2022 |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 2011–present |
| John LeClair | 1991–2006 |
| Anders Lee | 2013–present |
| Trevor Linden | 1988–2008 |
| Eric Lindros† | 1992–2007 |
| Milan Lucic | 2007–present |
| Evgeni Malkin | 2003–present |
| Ryan Malone | 2003–2015, 2017 |
| Patrick Maroon | 2008–present |
| Randy McKay | 1988–2003 |
| Scott Mellanby | 1986–2007 |
| Mark Messier† | 1978–2004 |
| Brenden Morrow | 1999–2015 |
| Rick Nash | 2002–2018 |
| James Neal | 2008–present |
| Cam Neely† | 1983–1996 |
| Owen Nolan | 1990–2011 |
| Eddie Olczyk | 1984–2000 |
| Bert Olmstead† | 1948–1962 |
| Joel Otto | 1984–1998 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 2005–present |
| Cedric Paquette | 2013–present |
| Michael Peca | 1993–2009 |
| Dustin Penner | 2005–2014 |
| Willi Plett | 1975–1988 |
| Alexei Ponikarovsky | 1998–2018 |
| Keith Primeau | 1990–2005 |
| Ryan Reaves | 2010–present |
| Maurice Richard† | 1942–1960 |
| Mike Richards | 2005–2016 |
| Nick Ritchie | 2015–present |
| Gary Roberts | 1986–2009 |
| Tomas Sandstrom | 1982–2002 |
| Al Secord | 1978–1990, 1994–1996 |
| Brendan Shanahan† | 1987–2009 |
| Wayne Simmonds | 2008–2023 |
| Ryan Smyth | 1994–2014 |
| Kevin Stevens | 1987–2002 |
| Mats Sundin† | 1989–2009 |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 2018–present |
| Brady Tkachuk | 2018–present |
| Keith Tkachuk | 1991–2010 |
| Matthew Tkachuk | 2016–present |
| Rick Tocchet | 1984–2002 |
| Rick Vaive | 1979–1992 |
| Pat Verbeek | 1982–2002 |
| Blake Wheeler | 2008–present |
| Tom Wilson | 2013–present |