Definition of a Powerforward?

[shifter 0]

So my coach figured out I was best suited for being a power forward and been told to get on the ice after the first guy comes off his shift before the whistle and skate my hardest and then come back off. I have never really played a power forward and I'm usually a winger. Ever since I've been put on being a power forward I have gotten very little shifts :( . I get very little shifts due to everyone coming off after the whistle so I never get a chance to play and enjoy the game... So I'm wondering how I should play this position well and getting those shifts? I feel like I'm just that weak player that the coach wants on the team and sit there on the bench and thats it..

[dumbpolak9 1]

1. As your title states you should go out there and hit guys. That's pretty much the job for 3rd and 4th line guys.

2. Try to use your body to come up with scoring opportunities

3. Give it your all in those 30 second shifts

[Rustpot 1]

No matter the definition of what Power Forward is you need to talk to the coach and ask for what exactly he's looking for.

He may think you're not so hot defensively, or you've got a low stamina, or that you're an explosive player good on the boards with a heavy offensive presence and he wants to keep you fresh for offensive chances.

Hit, grind, take the body in the corners, challenge hard, press and forecheck like that's all there is and don't worry about saving gas to get back into the play. If it works then you might get extended roles and put in for offensive faceoffs, if not he'll change your role. Unless he's just trying to cut your ice time, and in that case you need to speak to him after a while and see what's up.

[james12lucy 0]

I have never really played a power forward and I'm usually a winger.

What you need to realize is that a Power Forward can be any offensive position. You're still a winger, you've just got a slightly different role than say, a sniper or playmaker.

Your job is to use your size and strength to make plays in the offensive zone, to work along the boards to free the puck up, and to power your way to the net for scoring chances. He wants you IN the play at all times, not just sitting on the fringe waiting for the puck.

I would suggest you talk to him and find out what exactly he wants you to do. Once you start doing it you'll start gettign more ice-time.

[Speedz98 15]

Try watching Jarome Iginla or Eric Staal. Even Ovechkin sometimes gets invovled in the play physically and has a rough side to his endless amounts of skill.

[shotty 7]

Try watching Jarome Iginla or Eric Staal. Even Ovechkin sometimes gets invovled in the play physically and has a rough side to his endless amounts of skill.

his coach's definition of a power forward is much different than the kind of role iggy or staal have with respect to their team. if you compared the OPs role on his team to the nhl definition, i'd say he's more of a grinder.

defining "grinder" is a lot easier than power forward. grinding is getting in there and doing the dirty work, fighting for possession and freeing up the puck and creating open ice for your snipers and playmakers. its a great role to have because your physical and your all about exerting as much energy as possible for one purpose... to gain possession.

power forward is basically a bigger (not necessarily big in stature) guy who uses speed and his physical presence to create chances. a solid guy with great agility, balance and speed is a power forward.

[shifter 0]

Well over the last practices my coach has told me I was a pretty rounded player and that I have quite a lot of speed and agility for my size. Telling me I should use my body more and just go full out but, my problem so far is that everyone on my team mostly stays on the ice till a whistle so its very hard for me to get a number of shifts. One thing the coach doesn't want me on is pp kill, he just kept telling me when the time is right you'll have a chance =/. Definitely tonight's game I'm going to try and play more physically and gain position of the puck and get those shifts thanks boys for the tip!

[jjleip11 0]

A power forward is really more of a good skater with some strength behind them...somebody who can grind in the corners AND get the puck to the net. Power forwards on all teams I've played on have been an integral part of the game...the finesse players couldn't all go into a corner and dig out a puck against a bigger D-man. Be proud to wear the power label!

[The Mafia Line 0]

I read in a THN that generally they don't like the term power forward in hockey, but I don't think your coach knows what a power forward is. Eric Staal is a good example as well as Joe Thornton and Rick Nash. I would say a power forward is someone who's skilled offensively, big, uses his body, goes to the front of the net, immovable when in front of the net.

A good power forward is used on the first or second line. I think once a big guy is in a checking role the term power forward can't really be used.

[Chadd 916]

I read in a THN that generally they don't like the term power forward in hockey, but I don't think your coach knows what a power forward is. Eric Staal is a good example as well as Joe Thornton and Rick Nash. I would say a power forward is someone who's skilled offensively, big, uses his body, goes to the front of the net, immovable when in front of the net.

A good power forward is used on the first or second line. I think once a big guy is in a checking role the term power forward can't really be used.

I'm not so sure I would throw Thornton in there. Great player, big guy, but rarely throws his weight around.

When someone says power forward, I think of a big guy that hits, battles in front of the net, works for ugly goals and, at the appropriate levels, fights from time to time. You can do all of those things without the size as well, but most people tend to associate power forwards with big guys.

[james12lucy 0]

Prototypical Power Forward = Cam Neely. One of the best in the past 20 years.

[GimpIndustries 1]

Mike Knuble comes to mind for me here.

[phunky_monkey 6]

Brendan Shanahan also comes to mind as a great power forward, might want to check some videos out of him in action.

[jeremyp 3]

Cam Neely defined the term 'Power Forward'. His playing style was extremely unique and extremely effective. Watching him play when he came back from some serious injuries to score 50 goals in just over half a season was something we may never see for a very long time.

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

Some prototypical power forwards that come to mind for me are Gordie Howe, Bobby Clarke, Wendel Clark, Brendan Shanahan, Keith Tkachuk, Cam Neely, Mark Messier, Jeremy Roenick, Owen Nolan, etc. Guys who can score goals, make some big hits, and fight. They have a more physical style of play than the average forward.

[raygunpk 0]

James Neal!

[Wallzy41 9]

Bill Guerin was described as one on the FSN broadcast of the Pens/Ducks game tonight. Not sure if that's a term I'd agree with.

[warrior37 0]

Bill Guerin was described as one on the FSN broadcast of the Pens/Ducks game tonight. Not sure if that's a term I'd agree with.

And you're from the North East?

[Wallzy41 9]

Have not followed Bill Guerin's career closely. I've watched the pens since the year post lockout. Might agree with that following the fact... didn't he get a game misconduct against the pens when he was still with the Isles? It was the game they got blown out 9-2. Was it that game?

[warrior37 0]

Check em'

see how many times he has scored at least 20 goals and earned 100 or so PIMs in his career, he even did it his last year at BC, rather impressive, also factor in his 6'2", 220lb frame and he is a prototypical power forward

[Wallzy41 9]

ahh, Ya got me. Like I said, I haven't been watching Bill Guerin until he came to the 'burg.

[eric42434224 1]

John LeClair

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Eric Lindros (Everyone's prototypical PF despite the fact he wanted to look down at the puck coming across the blueline)

Cam Neely

John LeClair

Bill Guerin

Jarome Iginla

Rick Nash

Rick Tocchet

Kevin Stevens

Wendell Clark

Brendan Shanahan

[Law Goalie 147]

Howe and Hull are probably the best archetypes for the combination of scoring ability with sheer toughness or with astonishing physical strength respectively. There have been a few guys (like Neely) who had a good bit of both. Size helps with strength, but it's not essential to being a PF. Hull was only 5'10", but when he dropped his shoulder and got a bit of leverage, there wasn't (and may never be) a defenceman capable of stopping him from getting to the net.

[warrior37 0]

Clark Gilles