Maybe it’s the fact that the Penguins have invited hulking Brian Boyle to training camp. But it got me to thinking about black-and-gold power forwards from the past.
You could argue that Jaromir Jagr is the greatest power forward in the history of the franchise and you wouldn’t be wrong. Likewise, fellow superstars Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin had/have a significant power element in their respective games. Heck, Mario used to routinely score while dragging opposing checkers to the net like so many remora attached to a shark. But for the purpose of this article, I’m looking for more of the traditional Gordie Howe hat trick type of power forward. Guys who could hit and score and…if the situation called for it…fight.
Without further ado, here’s my list. Purely subjective, of course.
- Kevin Stevens (lw, 6-3, 230, 1987-95, 2000-02) During the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Stevens was the most lethal power forward in hockey. A veritable freight train on skates, “Artie” scored a staggering 190 goals over a four-season span, including a career-best 55 in ’92-93. A vocal leader who was at his best when the stakes were high, he struck for 30 postseason goals during the back-to-back Cup runs in ’91 and ‘92. A gruesome facial injury suffered during the 1993 playoffs derailed an almost sure-fire Hall-of-Fame career and contributed to a shocking downward spiral. But in his prime, Stevens was a sight to behold.
- Rick Tocchet (rw, 6-0, 210, 1992-94) A ferocious warrior winger, Tocchet came into the league as a fighter but willed himself into becoming one of the top power forwards of his day. “Toc” topped the 40-goal mark twice with the Flyers before coming to the Pens in a blockbuster ’92 trade. Displaying incredible courage and toughness, he fought Kevin Hatcher and Kris King during the playoffs despite a fractured jaw and was a driving force behind the Pens’ second Cup win. Skating next to Lemieux, he scored a career-high 48 goals and 109 points in 1992-93 while piling up 252 penalty minutes. Following an injury-plagued ’93-94 campaign, he was swapped to the Kings for Luc Robitaille.
- Patric Hornqvist (rw, 5-11, 189, 2014-20) Although Hornqvist doesn’t physically fit the mold of a traditional power forward, nobody past or present has matched the feisty Swede in terms of fearlessness, drive and passion. A bristling blend of maniacal net-front presence and silk-purse hands, “Horny” notched 132 goals during his 407-game stay in the ‘Burgh. During the 2016 postseason he tallied nine goals while delivering an astonishing 88 hits. Absorbed incredible punishment, but like a Timex watch he took a lickin’ and kept on tickin.’ Indomitable heart and spirit.
- James Neal (rw, 6-3, 212, 2011-14) Following a sluggish start in the ‘Burgh, Neal was shifted to the off-wing by then coach Dan Bylsma. Skating on the high-octane Steel City Line with Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz, “Nealer” exploded for 40 goals in 2011-12, including a league-best 18 on the power play. Possessing a hair-trigger release, he also displayed a hair-trigger temper, resulting in a pair of five-game suspensions. Still, he totaled an impressive 88 goals in 179 regular-season games for the black and gold before being dealt to Nashville for Hornqvist.
- Ryan Malone (lw, 6-4, 219, 2003-08) The son of former Penguin Greg Malone and a Pittsburgh native, Malone registered back-to-back 22-goal seasons at the outset of his pro career for woeful teams. Following a dip to 16 goals in 2006-07, “Bugsy” rededicated himself the following season and struck for 27 goals and 51 points…both career highs. He underwent a stunning metamorphosis as a fighter as well, transforming from frequent patsy into a genuine heavyweight who could throw with either hand. During Game 5 of the ’08 Cup Final he displayed his heart, famously playing with a badly broken nose. Parlayed his big season into a lucrative deal with the Lightning.
- Chris Kunitz (lw, 6-0, 188, 2009-17) Like Hornqvist, Kunitz didn’t fit the physical mold of a classic power forward. But don’t tell that to the countless foes “Kuni” targeted over his career. Indeed, the gritty battler seemed to throw every ounce of his compact 188-pound frame into his checks. An undrafted free agent out of Ferris State, Kunitz tallied 169 goals during his stay with the Pens, including a career-best 35 in 2013-14. When his scoring touch began to wane, he focused more on checking and physical play, dishing out an astonishing 691 hits over a three-season span. Hoisted the Cup four times during his 15-year career.
- Greg Malone (c, 6-0, 190, 1976-83) The other half of our father-son duo, the senior “Bugsy” played a straight-forward game and possessed more than a little skill to boot. Once described by a local writer as “a locomotive on a rampage” and especially effective in the high-traffic areas, Malone struck for 35 goals in 1978-79. The following season he was averaging a point per game and seemed destined for stardom. However, after tying a club record with a six-assist performance against Quebec on Nov. 28, 1979, Malone suffered torn ligaments in his right knee and was never quite the same.
- Battleship Kelly (lw, 6-2, 195, 1974-77) A late bloomer, Kelly didn’t make it to the NHL until he was 27. Following a trade to Pittsburgh during his rookie season, he blossomed into the quintessential scorer/enforcer of his day. A fearsome fighter who made short work of Flyers bad man Dave “the Hammer” Schultz in two tilts, “Battleship” possessed a hard slap shot and put it to good use, netting 52 goals for the then-blue and white over a two-season span while riding shotgun for superstar Pierre Larouche. Organist Vince Lascheid famously announced Kelly’s presence by playing “Anchors Aweigh” whenever the mustachioed winger stepped onto the ice.
- Jordan Staal (c, 6-4, 220, 2007-12) No, Staal isn’t your typical snarling power forward. But he did more of the dirty work than you might think. During the Cup season of 2008-09 he finished third on the team with 156 hits, trailing only Brooks Orpik and Matt Cooke. However, Jordan’s true value lie in anchoring the third line between Cooke and Tyler Kennedy, widely acclaimed to be the best in the league. In addition to his stellar defensive work, he was a solid scoring threat as well, topping the 20-goal mark four times during his stint in the ‘Burgh.
- Bryan Hextall (c, 5-11, 185, 1969-74) The son of Hall-of-Famer Bryan Hextall, Sr. and the father of GM Ron, Hextall was the Pens’ original power forward. Playing a hard-nosed style and frequently tangling with the likes of the Blues’ intimidating Plager brothers, Hextall steadily improved through his first four seasons in the Steel City. In 1970-71, he registered an Eddie Shore triple crown of sorts, pacing the Pens in assists, points and penalty minutes. He reached the 20-goal plateau two seasons running and tallied 33 assists and 54 points in 1972-73, both career highs.
- Warren Young (lw, 6-3, 195, 1983-85, 86-88) Okay, make it eleven. Young’s season in the sun was brief, but what a season it was. Skating next to fellow first-year pro Lemieux as a 29-year-old rookie, “Scorin’ Warren” shocked everyone…including himself…by scoring 40 goals while topping the league with an incredible 30.5 shooting percentage. Just as important, Young dropped the gloves 17 times that season, often in defense of his more heralded linemate. After signing a lucrative free-agent deal with Detroit, Young returned to the ‘Burgh in 1986-87. Alas, the magic dust wore off…and his encore proved to be his swan song.
Honorable Mention:
Randy Cunneyworth, Bill Guerin, Troy Loney, Gary Roberts and Eddie Shack