archetype noun: The perfect example of a thing or the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies. adj: Archetypical.
When you close your eyes and think “Archetypical Hockey Player… what do you think? By “Archetypical Hockey Player… I am saying one from which you could mold all future hockey players.
Do you think superstar like a Gretzky, Orr, or Patrick Roy? Do you think all around like a Messier or a Bobby Clarke? Do you think Gordie Howe? Forsberg? Pronger? Yzerman?
Personally, when I think “Archetypical Hockey Player… I think of the ultimate complete player. The Ultimate Teammate. Below are 22 characteristics I would look for in the player I would want to be the mold for all others to come. I also included examples of the first player who came to mind. I am sure you could find better examples...and will.
1. The Archetypical Hockey Player is a guy who you just want on your team and will play every shift like it’s his last. ex: Joe Sakic
2. The Archetypical Hockey Player Who will make a play in every zone on the ice. ex: Datsyuk
3. The Archetypical Hockey Player doesn’t need to wear the C to be the team captain, because his presence alone makes him a captain anyway. ex: Scott Stevens
4. The Archetypical Hockey Player is loathed by 29 team fan bases, but not one NHL fan wouldn’t trade away some valuable to have him on their squad.ex: Dale Hunter
5. The Archetypical Hockey Player who has spent most of his career in one city won’t take more money to go and play for that city’s arch rival ex: Peter Forsberg
6. The Archetypical Hockey Player plays hurt and nobody knows about it. ex: Mark Messier
7. The Archetypical Hockey Player isn’t always loved or understood by the media, but if you ask any player in the locker room they will tell you he is the best teammate they have ever had. ex: Mike Richards
8. The Archetypical Hockey Player hates to lose, doesn’t accept losing, and doesn’t make excuses for losing. Ex: Jonathan Toews
9. The Archetypical Hockey Player takes responsibility. ex: Marty Brodeur
10. The Archetypical Hockey Player isn’t necessarily a fighter, will never take placed in a staged fight, but when he does fight it matters...and he can surprise you by how good of a fighter he is. ex: John LeClair
11. The Archetypical Hockey Player stays on his skates even when being mugged by a defender to the point that when he is pulled down you know it is a penalty. ex: Jarome Iginla
12. The Archetypical Hockey Player will standup for anyone, even the fourth line AHL call up, if he feels that player has been cheap-shotted. ex: Milan Lucic
13. The Archetypical Hockey Player is often looked over in the three star selection because the level at which he performs is so consistently great it has come to be the norm. ex: Scott Niedermayer
14. The Archetypical Hockey Player never would even consider asking to be traded.
15. The Archetypical Hockey Player is often followed by the line, “he will likely be a coach in this league someday.… ex: Kirk Muller
16. The Archetypical Hockey Player may not be the best skater and may not be the best shooter, but nobody would ever complain about his abilities. ex: Bryan Trottier
17. The Archetypical Hockey Player knows how to manufacture goals when needed. ex: Claude Lemieux
18. The Archetypical Hockey Player is as dangerous on the penalty kill as he is on the power play. Steve Yzerman
19. The Archetypical Hockey Player is the first guy on the ice at practice and the last to leave. Ryan Smyth
20. The Archetypical Hockey Player may not make All-Star teams but when it comes to the Olympics it is incredibly hard to not have him off the squad._________
21. The Archetypical Hockey Player will make a hit to change the momentum and take a hit to get a scoring chance. ex: Cam Neely
22. The Archetypical Hockey Player prepares in every game to go to war. Gordie Howe
So how about currently playing today? Do you think Ovechkin, Stamkos, Crosby? They are the superstars of this era for sure, but are they the mold?
Five Questions... What Characteristics did I miss? What example did I miss? Who would you use for your mold? Who is your current Archetypical Hockey Player? Who All-time?
I look forward to your answers and will use some when I do a later blog listing my top 5 choices.