Player archetypes: NHL stars and where to find their comparables in the PHF playoff race

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Forwards

The True Power Forward

Now, not everyone is convinced that ‘power forward’ is a real thing, and you’ll hear different definitions of what it is (if it even exists). On top of that, because of the fact that the PHF doesn’t allow open-ice hits, there’s going to be some variation in the type of play you see between the NHL examples and the PHF examples that’s more noticeable than it might be for other archetypes. That being said, if one of the guys on this list is your favorite to watch, it’s likely that what you appreciate is the combination of physicality and skill that defines their play. These players are often fast, but instead of simply using their speed to evade, they use their speed to absorb and dish out physical contact in their movement towards the goal. They’re not afraid to get into it with anyone, anytime – in fact, you might say they enjoy those moments, even if their primary objective is to put the puck in the net.

NHL: Matt Tkachuk, Gabe Landeskog, Andrei Svechnikov, Jamie Benn, Blake Wheeler, Mark Stone, Chris Kreider, Kirill Kaprizov

PHF: Shiann Darkangelo, Taylor Wenczkowski, Taylor Girard, Stephanie Anderson

Honorable Mentions: Madison Packer

The Sniper

If one of these NHLers or a similar guy is your favorite, you’ll love any one of the PHF players with exceptionally powerful, accurate shots. None of these players are truly one-dimensional or they would not be professionals, but alongside their arsenal of other skills—whether it’s their speed, their strength, or their puckhandling—what makes them stand out is their ability to put the puck in the net from anywhere, often with very little space or time to make a goal happen. Some of them, like Ovechkin, have preferred spots on the ice. Interestingly, the Six’s Brittany Howard is often in the same spot on the powerplay: hovering in that left side circle, waiting for a pass that she can wire into the top corner of the net. And even if you know it’s coming, most of the time, it’s just…inevitable.

NHL: Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Ovechkin, Mikko Rantanen, David Pastrnak, Auston Matthews, Jason Robertson, Cole Caufield, Jeff Skinner

PHF: Loren Gabel, Brittany Howard, Melissa Samoskevich, Natalie Snodgrass

Honorable Mentions: Fanni Gasparics, Claudia Kepler

The Elite Two-Way Center

These players do it all and they do it while playing arguably the most key position on the ice outside of goaltender. They win face-offs at a respectable (or better) clip, they score important goals, they create plays for their linemates, and on top of that, they’re responsible with the puck, backchecking hard to support their defenders in transition, causing turnovers with strong forechecks in the neutral zone that lead to scoring chances. These are the players in the NHL who are often up for a Selke award. There’s no comparable award for the PHF (yet), but all of the centers I’ve named have a deep skill set and a positive impact on their team’s defensive play while they’re on the ice.

NHL: Sasha Barkov, Patrice Bergeon, Anze Kopitar, Robert Thomas, Nico Hischier, Roope Hintz, Jordan Staal

PHF: Jillian Dempsey, Liz Schepers, Alyssa Wohlfeiler, Brianne Wilson-Bennett

The Puck Possession Wizard

These are the players who skate like they have a magnet in the blade of their sticks, who are fast enough or strong enough to protect the puck and carry it through and around contact without even coming close to losing it, who have the soft hands and dangles or the accuracy with their shot that makes all of this puckhandling extremely efficient and dangerous. They will do things with the puck at speeds that other skaters can’t even hit without the puck. Set up someone like Jonna Albers for a breakaway and watch her dangle her way into a highlight reel goal. Under pressure, good luck stripping the puck off of Kennedy Marchment’s stick. You won’t.

NHL: Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, Mat Barzal, Nicklas Bäckström, Claude Giroux, Jack Hughes, Sidney Crosby

PHF: McKenna Brand, Jonna Albers, Michela Cava, Kennedy Marchment

The Gifted Playmaker

Although any one of these players can score just fine on their own, and they often do. But to me, their defining characteristic as players is their ability to see the ice in a different way. These players can see a play develop three passes before it does. These playmakers know where to put the puck on the ice for their teammates, they understand their teammates’ strengths, and when it’s them with the puck, their hockey IQ gives them the confidence to make plays on their own that nobody else would even think to attempt, no matter how fast they are or how accurate their shot is.

NHL: Artemi Panarin, Martin Nečas, Trevor Zegras, Tim Stützle, Johnny Gaudreau, Evgeni Malkin, Mitch Marner

PHF: Élizabeth Giguére, Denisa Krížová, Emma Woods, Katerina Mrázová

Defenders

The Double Down

Offensive defenders often get the most glory, but if you appreciate the NHLers listed here, you’re more impressed by balance than you are by feats of glory from the blue line. These players are gifted offensively, but also able to play huge chunks of minutes in any situation— the powerplay, sure, but the penalty kill and at even strength, chewing up tough matchups against the league’s stars, blocking shots if needed, and then taking off to score a highlight reel goal or dish a sweet assist to a teammate.

NHL: Miro Heiskanen, Charlie McAvoy, Jared Spurgeon, Dimitri Orlov, Victor Hedman, Dougie Hamilton

PHF: Lindsay Eastwood, Kali Flanagan, Shannon Turner, Amanda Boulier

The Smooth Skating Quarterback

For those who love a smooth skating offensive defender who makes excellent passes and runs a slick, efficient powerplay. These players shine when they have the ability to dictate scoring plays, creating chances off the rush with their speed and agility, or distributing the puck to the perfect spot during powerplays to set up their teammates.

NHL: Roman Josi, Adam Fox, Cale Makar, Shayne Gostisbehere, Erik Karlsson, Shea Theodore

PHF: Sydney Baldwin, Kaleigh Fratkin, Kati Tabin, Allie Munroe

Goalies

The Calm in the Storm

The goalies who feel almost unshakeable. Their positioning is always strong, as if they can magically anticipate where the play will develop before it does. They seem to take up so much of the net with their confidence that scoring on them becomes a Herculean task when they’re really on their game.

NHL: John Gibson, Linus Ullmark, Connor Hellebyuck, Andrei Vasilevsky

PHF: Corinne Schroeder, Abbie Ives

The Acrobat

If these are the type of goalies you like to watch, chances are you love being entertained by flashy saves. These players rely on their reflexes and flexibility, often making saves that just don’t seem like they should be possible. You love chaos, and these goalies thrive within it. How many times have we seen Lev make a save that just shouldn’t physically be possible? How fast can Chuli get across her crease? You’ve got to tune in on ESPN+ to find out.

NHL: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Marc-Andre Fleury, Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin

PHF: Elaine Chuli, Amanda Leveille