It is a rare commodity for an NHL player to have the size, strength, skill, and intelligence to dominate on the ice each and every night. This particular combination is defined as a power forward.
Throughout the NHL’s history, many have excelled in this role. Cam Neely was a player who scared opponent’s going into the corner just as much as he did getting the puck in the slot, helping the Boston Bruins maintain their big and bad status.
Mark Messier was not only one of the league’s greatest leaders, but he was also one of the most feared. His skillset lent itself to his undeniable toughness. Opposing players did not want to look him in the eye and if they did, their eyes would be black from one of his patented elbows.
These legends, along with Eric Lindros, Brendan Shanahan, and Keith Tkachuk among others, paved the way for big, skilled players to dominate the league.
From here, Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan would take the reins as a couple of the best NHL power forwards for a solid decade. We also saw the likes of Eric Staal, Rick Nash, and Milan Lucic follow, dominating the league for stretches of time.
As time marches forward, however, the meaning of what a power forward is has changed. That is why the term should carry a modified meaning as it isn’t just about dropping the gloves and laying board-rattling hits. The modern-day power forward uses his size to the team’s greatest advantage, which includes protecting the puck, driving the net, and being a presence in the crease on the power play.
This list of the NHL’s best power forwards should represent this newfound definition while also maintaining the importance of their abilities to rack up points and be a physical presence.
15) Corey Perry – Edmonton Oilers
When the Anaheim Ducks bought out Corey Perry during the 2019 offseason, there was a serious question as to whether he could still make an impact in the NHL. Sure, he had the legacy of an exceptional player, but the times of him dominating games seemed to have passed.
Throughout the 2019-20 and 2020-21 regular seasons, Perry was largely invisible on the ice, and when he was being noticed, it was due to a bad hit or taking a penalty that negatively affected his team. In the postseasons, though, he showed his top form, as he helped lead his team to the Stanely Cup Final by chipping in key goals and getting under his opponents’ skin. He even kept the tradition alive by reaching the 2024 Final for the fourth time in five years with a different team, and while he didn’t claim the Cup, it was another impressive showing for the aging star.
At his age, you would expect a reduction in this role, but over four of the last five postseasons, he’s played nearly 20-plus games in runs to the Stanley Cup Final, while running around the ice like a madman, scoring points, and starting scrums at every turn. He still plays like Corey Perry, after all, and he’s a player you love having on your roster and despise seeing on the ice if you’re an opponent.
14) Josh Anderson – Montreal Canadiens
Few players in recent memory encapsulate a traditional power forward more than Josh Anderson. At 6-foot-3, 226 pounds, he is a mountain of a man who is well known for using his size to impose his will on opponents.
Despite all of this potential, Anderson simply has never been able to dominate as everyone expected him to, even if he provided some key goals during the Canadiens’ run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. However, if he can find that perfect balance of physical play and scoring that he has flashed at times, Montreal could have a special power forward on their roster. It just feels like we are past the point of this happening in a meaningful way.
13) Jordan Staal – Carolina Hurricanes
Throughout his 18-year NHL career, Jordan Staal has been a leader off the ice everywhere he played, while being a complete pain to compete against on it. Clocking it at 6-foot-4, he has been a consistent scoring presence who averages roughly 20 goals and 40 points while dominating the game with his physical presence and 150-plus hits each season.
Even as he reaches the back half of his career, Staal still has maintained his strong level of play, as the Carolina Hurricanes’ Captain looks to lead them to their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. Given his ability to wear down opponents, he’s the exact player you want leading your team as you take on that challenge.
12) Tyler Bertuzzi – Chicago Blackhawks
While he may not be the first player you think of when someone asks you to name a top power forward in the NHL, Tyler Bertuzzi has gained a reputation as one of the more difficult players to take on in the league. He may not be huge, but he plays a punishing game that grinds down opponents along the boards and in front of the net.
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Really, it was his time with the Boston Bruins that cemented his place on this list. Bertuzzi had a monster (albeit quick) postseason, as he posted 10 points in just seven games played, and he almost willed the Bruins into the second round on his own. He plays big on the ice, and when he is on his game, he is able to create space space around his net, while creating havoc for his opponents.
After an impressive season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he posted 21 goals, 43 points, and 98 hits, Bertuzzi maintained his power-forward playstyle, which he will now look to bring to the Blackhawks for the next four seasons with the rebuilding franchise.
11) Evander Kane – Edmonton Oilers
There’s a reason why the San Jose Sharks signed Evander Kane to a seven-year, $49 million extension back in the 2018 offseason: he simply is one of the great power forwards in the game.
Off the ice, however, things haven’t been good for Kane. This led to his contract being terminated by the Sharks, and he signed with the Edmonton Oilers, where he regained his form and showcased why he is still one of the top players in the NHL by leading the league in postseason goalscoring in 2022.
Now there are expectations back on Kane again, and he signed a four-year contract with the Oilers to make him part of their core. If he keeps out of trouble and continues to produce on the ice, this could be a perfect situation for him to play that power-forward game that made him such a sought-after player in the first place. If he stays healthy, I fully believe he can post career-high scoring totals once again. However, injuries are flaring up again that could jeopardize his career rebound.
10) Tom Wilson – Washington Capitals
If you aren’t a fan of the Washington Capitals, there’s a lot to hate about Tom Wilson. His hard-nosed, consistently borderline playing style has made him one of the most difficult players to compete against in the entire NHL. When he is on the ice, his presence is well known, with a constant barrage of hits and agitation that can unhinge even the steadiest of players.
Yes, there’s a constant debate swirling around Wilson and his style. Some people love it and see him as a harbinger of old-school hockey. Others see him as a dirty player who should spend more time suspended than on the ice.
No matter what side of the debate you stand on, one can’t deny that Wilson has all the trapping of a great power forward. His physical playing style can change the course of a game and playoff series, and it was a major factor in the Capitals winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.
9) Mark Stone – Vegas Golden Knights
Over the years, Mark Stone has been not only one of the best defensive forwards in the league, but one of the best players, period. He is a prime example of how the definition of a power forward has changed, as he isn’t going to lay down 100 hits in a season or drop the gloves at a moment’s notice to change the momentum of a game. Instead, he uses his 6-foot-3 frame to influence all aspects of play, whether that is winning a puck battle along the boards, chipping in a tough goal in front of the net, or shielding the puck as he breaks out of the neutral zone.
So, while he may be a far cry from the traditional power forward mold, he has all the trapping of a player who knows how to use his size and raw power to change the outcome of a game. Look no further than the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when Stone led the Vegas Golden Knights to their first championship using his size and skill to take over games and dominate series. Simply put, when he wanted something, he moved heaven and Earth to make it happen, and he only stopped when he held the Stanley Cup.
8) Lawson Crouse – Utah Hockey Club (Utah HC)
A reality of the Arizona Coyotes was that they were an underserved franchise by the hockey world. This means that some of their best players simply didn’t receive the coverage they deserved, which kept them off lists like this at times. However, when I asked THW for the top power forwards in the league, Lawson Crouse was a name that came up that I’ve missed who should have been on my list all along.
First off, Crouse is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound forward capable capable of dolling out 200-plus hits each season. However, he’s more than just a hitter, as he has posted four three straight 20-plus goal seasons. You really can’t ask for more than that from a power forward.
As Utah HC rises out of the ashes of the Coyotes, Crouse has the chance to establish himself not only as a face of the fledgling franchise but also as a rising star in the NHL. If there’s anyone the fanbase will fall in love with, it will be a big-bodied bruiser with a knack for scoring key goals, so the future could be bright for both player and franchise.
7) Jamie Benn – Dallas Stars
Throughout his career, Jamie Benn has been one of the hardest-working players in the NHL. Drafted in the fifth round in 2007, he cracked the team only two years later — an unbelievable feat from such a late-round pick. For years, Benn determined the pace of the game using his skill level and assertiveness. Despite his impressive production, the former Kelowna Rocket was one of the toughest players you will ever see and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves with anyone in the league.
After it looked like his best days were behind him, Benn found his game once again during the 2022-23 season, as he posted 33 goals and 78 points along with 97 booming hits. Anyone who saw him play immediately knew he was back, which is something that should scare the league.
6) Blake Coleman – Calgary Flames
When you think of a power forward in hockey, you should immediately jump to a 6-foot-3 truck of a man who can bend the will of a game to around them with their strength and skill. However, not every power forward has to be huge, with one of my favorite examples being Blake Coleman of the Calgary Flames.
Coleman is relatively small, coming in at 5-foot-11, but he plays like a wrecking ball on the ice. He’s the kind of player that creates havok with his body in front of the net, has a fantastic scoring touch, and is willing to make those statue-worthy diving goals that define a championship run.
Much like a fine wine, Coleman is only getting better with age. The 2023-24 season was his best yet, where he posted 30 goals, 54 points, and 128 hits for a middling Flames team. If he keeps that up, he might just will this rebuilding franchise back to the playoffs.
5) Dakota Joshua – Vancouver Canucks
Not every player takes the same path to the NHL. For Dakota Joshua, this path started as a fifth-round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014 before playing four seasons with the Ohio State University, being traded to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations, bouncing between the AHL, NHL, and ECHL before eventually finding his spot in the league with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent in 2022.
Since joining Vancouver, Joshua blossomed into a nearly perfect power forward. In the 2023-24 season, he posted 18 goals and 32 points in just 63 games played, while laying out 245 hits. If he had played a full season, he easily could have broken 20 goals, 40 points, and maybe even 300 hits, all while playing almost two minutes each night on the penalty kill.
Unfortunately, Joshua’s career took another unexpected turn when he announced during the 2024 offseason that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which required surgery to remove. For now, the hockey world can only send their best wishes to him for a full recovery, as the Canucks look for the great power forward to be a major part of their future.
4) Chris Kreider – New York Rangers
Throughout his career, Chris Kreider has been a bit of a polarizing figure. He possesses every tool to be one of the most dangerous players whenever he steps on the ice but struggled at times putting it all together.
In the 2018-19 season, the Massachusetts native found more consistency, registering 28 goals and 52 points while laying down 159 hits. He followed that up with a 45 point campaign in 2019-20 when the New York Rangers decided it was time to lock him down with a seven-year contract extension. In 2020-21, he posted 20 goals and 30 points in 50 games, while adding 115 hits, showing that he may be back in his groove once again.
With a future playing for a young, highly talented Rangers team, Kreider appeared to put it all together in 2021-22. Not only did he lay down over 141 hits, but he scored 52 goals and 77 points. Needless to say, this is what New York hoped for when they signed that massive contract. As he continues producing points and laying down the hits, he will further justify this investment by the franchise to fans and silence critics along the way.
3) Brady Tkachuk – Ottawa Senators
It should come as no surprise to find a Tkachuk on this list. Over the last three seasons, Brady Tkachuk amassed some truly staggering statistics, as he scored 30-plus goals while laying down 250-plus hits and racking up at least 115 penalty minutes each season.
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To put it simply, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as he is a perfect specimen of what a power forward can be, just like his father. So, for an Ottawa Senators franchise that is looking to emerge from their rebuild better than ever, he will factor heavily into their future on the ice and as a leader off it.
2) Alexander Ovechkin – Washington Capitals
Many would consider Alex Ovechkin a sniper and rightly so, he is the best goal-scorer the NHL has seen in decades and one of the best all time. This doesn’t change the fact that he is a physical specimen and, since breaking into the league, has the fourth most hits among forwards.
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The future Hall-of-Fame winger chills opposing players to the bone when they see his body coming full speed at them to finish his check, something he always does. Something else he always does? Sets up his office on the left circle ready to blow a one-timer past the goaltender.
After finally claiming the Stanley Cup in 2018, there’s no debate about the greatness that is Ovechkin. One only needs to know his nickname, the Great Eight, to recognize the legacy he has left and will continue to leave on the game. Even at age 37, he still laid down 188 hits while scoring 42 goals, which are numbers that are incredible for a player at this point of his career.
Ovechkin has already won more awards and earned more statistical achievements than the vast majority of players who have ever played the game but that isn’t enough. Number eight isn’t only great because he scores goals, as his community involvement is a hallmark all hockey players should follow.
1) Matthew Tkachuk – Florida Panthers
Throughout his NHL career, Matthew Tkachuk can be described as many things by opponents. Pesky, annoying, dirty, a villain. Since joining the league as a 19-year-old, he has become one of those players who is hated by opponents and loved by fans.
As time moved forward, however, Tkachuk grew out of the role of thug and into the role of Superstar. His dominance throughout the 2023 Postseason was a coming-out party, as he introduced himself to the world as both an elite offensive talent and an unstoppable physical presence who could drop the gloves and score a series-winning goal all in the same game. Claiming the 2024 Stanley Cup just put another stamp on his impressive (and growing) resume.
There are few players with the raw skill and size like Tkachuk in the NHL, and he is the type of player up-and-coming power forwards will model their game after for the next decade-plus. Needless to say, the archetype is in good hands for the future.
Thanks for the shout to my very own Shane Doan. I couldn’t agree more with the fact that he has had to be the driving force for the troubled team. Although this year he’s got some help with the excellent trades that were made. Go Yotes.
This is a list of the current best nhl power forwards in the league, not the greatest of all-time. Now that I’ve cleared that out of the way, Tkachuk definitely was one of the best in his prime but he’s getting to that point in his career where it’ll be time to call it quits soon.
What about Keith Tkachuk? He was off to a tremendous start this year and led his team to the playoffs last season. The guy just keeps playing at a level of skill and intensity that most players dream of. Shanahan was a pretty good combo of pugilism and scoring prowess, and of course the legendary Gary Roberts. To me only Lecavalier and your top 5 are worth mentioning with the legendary PF I have referenced.
If guys like Nash and Thornton are on this list, neither of whom are know for their physical play or fisticuffs, then Malkin should be on the list. The big Russian has now proven he can dominate in the regular and post-season and his size + skill combination is a big factor in that equation. If you were to base this on the classic definition of a power forward (i.e. Messier, Neely, Iginla, Bertuzzi), then Getzlaf and Richards are the two nearest their peak at the moment. It will be interesting to see if Lucic can deliver on the hype and the big contract but he has shown the ability to deliver in the clutch.
Read the criteria: guys that score, hit and fight. Backes does all three which is why he’s ahead of those guys. Nash, Ovie and Staal don’t fight and Kovalchuk doesn’t either. A power forward is someone who can score and play physical hockey. This list would be too easy just to go by stats and power forwards are meant to do more than just put up points.
A list of power forwards that puts Backes above Nash, Ovi and Staal says someone doesn’t know their hockey very well. Leaving off Kovulchuk and inserting Morrow or others is jus absurd. You seem to understand both power and forward but not the combination. I won’t however argue with Iginlas placement.
My personal favorites were the aforementioned no-show in the Cup finals game 6-7, the disappearing act vs. Anaheim the next playoffs (one shot in each game, 0 points) and last year’s -5 in the last two games vs. Chicago, also pointless. Yep, that’s our generation’s Messier right there…always carrying the team when it counts.
“Iginla is always ready and you’ll rarely see him take a night off”
I’ve seen him take plenty off when the team needs a win the most (See Game 6-7 of the 2004 Cup Final). Of course, its never his fault and all.
Who’s in love with him? I’m merely pointing out that he’s a great competitor that can do anything for his team effectively. No stanley cup win doesn’t change any of that.
“Having reached the Stanley Cup Finals, Iginla knows what it takes to win in the postseason. When envisioning the phrase blood, sweat and tears, it’s Calgary’s rugged winger fighting for the logo on the front.
Partnered with less skilled forwards in the past, that problem is history thanks to Olli Jokinen’s arrival. Iginla is always ready and you’ll rarely see him take a night off.”
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. I swear, Canada’s obsession with this guy knows no end. He knows what it takes to win in the postseason, eh? Did they win the Cup that year? Have they done anything since that run? NOPE. Mr. “I dreamed I held the Cup before Game 6” vanished from the 2004 finals with nary a shot after the OT win in Game 5. The only memorable thing he’s done in the postseason since was take part in that disgusting scrum vs. the Wings a couple years back. I forgot, in Western Canada they call that “leadership”.
Check his stats in seventh or series deciding games. His stats are atrocious. The continued love affair with this guy is absolutely pathetic.