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Who are the top power forwards in NHL history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Clark Gillies: a physical force with a deft scoring touch as a member of the New York Islanders’ dynasty that won four Stanley Cups, Gillies tallied 30+ goals 6x with New York (319 career goals) while also racking up 1,000+ penalty minutes during his Hall of Fame career.
9. Keith Tkachuk: starring across numerous teams during his nearly two decades in the NHL, Tkachuk was the first American-born player to lead the league in goals scored (52 in 1996-1997) en route to 538 career goals and 1,065 career points.
8. Eric Lindros: a dominant center before injuries and concussions took their toll, Lindros possessed a rare combination of skill and physicality, winning both the Hart Trophy and Pearson Award during the lockout-shortened 1994-1995 season and becoming one of the fastest players in league history to 300, 400, 500, and 600 career points.
7. Cam Neely: one of the preeminent power forwards in the game when healthy, Neely scored 50+ goals on three occasions for the Boston Bruins (including the rare 50 goals in 50 games feat in 1993-1994) before injuries ended his Hall of Fame career prematurely.
6. Jarome Iginla: the heart and soul of the Calgary Flames for more than 15 years, Iginla was a skilled power forward who tallied an even 1,300 career points (625 goals and 675 assists) with a slew of individual awards: 2x Richard, 1x Pearson, 1x Ross, 1x Clancy, and 1x Messier.
5. Brendan Shanahan: one of the best power forwards in NHL history, Shanahan mixed skill with grit and is the only player ever with 600+ career goals and 2,000+ career penalty minutes while winning three Stanley Cups as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
4. Mark Messier: despite playing in Wayne Gretzky’s shadow earlier in his career (he may be the best second-line center ever), Messier is the third all-time leading scorer and the only player ever to captain two different teams to Stanley Cup titles (Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers); individually, he was a 2x Hart Trophy and Pearson Award winner and also took home a Conn Smythe as part of his six championships.
3. Phil Esposito: in addition to scoring a then-record 76 goals in 1970-1971, Esposito led the league in goals for six straight years in the 1970s, including five straight with 50+, and retired as the NHL’s second-leading goal-scorer behind only Gordie Howe; he won also two Harts, two Pearson, and five Ross Trophies while leading the Bruins to two championships.
2. Maurice Richard: the namesake of the Richard Trophy for top goal-scorer annually, Richard led the league in goal-scoring 5x and accumulated 544 career goals, becoming the first player to score 50 goals in a season (in just 50 games) and 500 goals in a career; moreover, the 1946-1947 Hart Trophy winner guided the Montreal Canadiens to eight Stanley Cup titles in his 18 seasons with the team.
1. Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey himself, Howe played an incredible 25 years with the Red Wings and won six Hart and Ross Trophies each while guiding the team to four Stanley Cup titles and retiring as the NHL’s all-time career scoring leader (though he has since been surpassed by Wayne Gretzky).
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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