A power forward means an superior physical specimen with elite offensive skills, a guy who uses physical play to score/contribute to his team.
It doesn't mean they have to be a bruiser/fighter as well (or be Canadian)
Forsberg was amazing, no doubt. Probably top 3 European players ever and just a total force.
With that said, before his career was derailed, Lindros' peak was simply dominant, moreso than Forsberg. So yes, Forsberg clearly the better player but Lindros is an interesting discussion point because of the "what could have been" factor. Those two top seasons 95-96 and 96-97 in Philly were seasons previously unseen. Elite point production, 160 PIMs over a PPG in the playoffs, dominant power forward.
A power forward means an superior physical specimen with elite offensive skills, a guy who uses physical play to score/contribute to his team.
It doesn't mean they have to be a bruiser/fighter as well (or be Canadian)
I think you'll find that your prototypical power forward did not possess elite offensive skills but were good goal scorers who could play in the traffic and use their physical attributes to their advantage.
While I think that Forsberg was a great player, I'd never categorize him as a power forward in the mould of Neely, Tocchet, Kerr, etc.
"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...and willingly engages in fights when required."
From Dan Diamond, Total Hockey: the Official Encyclopedia of the National Hockey League.
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I always get shot for saying this, but if I had a choice between Lindros and Forsberg in their prime, I take Forsberg 10/10 times.
Lindros was a sniveling little baby that got a large dose of karma.
Lindros watching the Avs (former Nordiques) win it all in '96, then losing out in the finals in '97 is one of the greatest stories of justice in sports' history. Hearing him spew about how the Nordiques ''didn't have the drive to win'', then having them win it all a couple seasons later I remember made me really happy when I was a kid.
Great player. Lindros truly could have been one the greatest players of all time, but sadly injuries derailed him.
Hearing him spew about how the Nordiques ''didn't have the drive to win'', then having them win it all a couple seasons later I remember made me really happy when I was a kid.
I remember being skeptical about the hype surround Lindros before he made it to the NHL. And then, like a lot of other people, I watched slack-jawed as he made the Canada Cup as an 18-year-old and absolutely pasted Otto and Samuelsson with clean hits, then left a Finnish player crumpled on the ice until he was taken off in a stretcher.
I remember being skeptical about the hype surround Lindros before he made it to the NHL. And then, like a lot of other people, I watched slack-jawed as he made the Canada Cup as an 18-year-old and absolutely pasted Otto and Samuelsson with clean hits, then left a Finnish player crumpled on the ice until he was taken off in a stretcher.
Only Canadian to play on Team Canada in Canada/World Cup & Olympics (best on best) tournament.
I'm a huge Forsberg fan but I take a prime Lindros over Forsberg everyday of the week
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I remember being skeptical about the hype surround Lindros before he made it to the NHL. And then, like a lot of other people, I watched slack-jawed as he made the Canada Cup as an 18-year-old and absolutely pasted Otto and Samuelsson with clean hits, then left a Finnish player crumpled on the ice until he was taken off in a stretcher.
He was an absolute beast in the '91 Canada Cup. That hit on Otto behind the net was HUGE!
I have a cousin that played on the Men's National Team for a number of years. Lindros played a few games with them when he was 16. My cousin couldn't believe the talent he possessed and how physically strong he was back then.
It is sad to see that people typically only remember the Big E from the Scott Stevens hit forward. Prior to that he was a one-man wrecking crew that got the better of Stevens and the rest of the NHLs "big men" more often than not.
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