Marvel Heroes: Your favorite NHL Players as superheroes

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Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images /

NHL players aren’t too different from your favorite Marvel Heroes. Let’s take a look at some of the best hockey players in the world and which Marvel Universe superhero they most closely resemble.

NHL fans and Marvel fans are quite similar. They’re both extremely passionate. Hockey is steadily growing around the world and NHL fans support their favorite NHL players while Marvel fans support their favorite Marvel heroes anyway they can. So it’s not a surprise these two universes overlap a little bit.

Hockey players are elite athletes in peak physical condition. Sounds just like a super hero. Heroes perform superhuman feats of strength and speed. Ever see Connor McDavid fly down the ice or Zdeno Chara deal out a bone crushing hit?

Which Marvel heroes do today’s top NHL players most closely resemble? Here’s the NHL’s version of The Avengers!

Victor Hedman – Thor

There are so many similarities between Thor and Victor Hedman, you’d think Hedman actually is Thor. Both are extremely handsome and athletic. Though Thor can blend into society on Earth, as he proved in recent Marvel Universe films, Thor has a very intimidating presence when he’s ready to battle. Likewise, Hedman isn’t someone to be messed with on the ice.

Now, let’s address the obvious connection. Hedman plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Thor is the god of thunder. This is more than just a mere coincidence. Thor wields his infamous hammer and uses it as his weapon of choice. Hedman is equally proficient with his hockey stick, which is roughly as big as Thor’s hammer.

Another important quality of Thor is his charisma and confidence. Remember, Thor was powerless in Avengers: Infinity War until he got his hammer back. Hedman radiates confidence and charisma as well, though he does so in an admittedly more subtle manner than Thor does.

Hedman has a well-rounded game, but his power is his calling card. His slap shot is legendary and getting hit by a 6’6″223-pound force of nature has got to hurt quite a bit. Hedman might not rely on his power quite as much as Thor, but if he uses his power, good luck beating him.

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Dustin Byfuglien – The Hulk

There are two sides to The Incredible Hulk. The first is scientist Bruce Banner. He’s rather mild-mannered and is generally a pretty likable guy. But you won’t like him when he’s angry. That’s because Banner transforms in The Incredible Hulk when he’s mad. And the madder Hulk gets, the more pain he causes.

Likewise, Dustin Byfuglien‘s a pretty likable guy off the ice. He likes to fool around and have fun. Byfuglien might not have the brains of Banner, but just like him, he’s a very mild-mannered, likable guy when he’s not on his natural habitat. But once he puts on his uniform and hits the ice, he becomes the closest thing the NHL has to The Hulk.

You can tell when Byfuglien is mad because his slapshots become even louder and even more powerful. They’re even a bit less accurate, which has to be frightening to everyone on the ice, including his teammates. Byfuglien’s hits become harder and he looks for an excuse to destroy his opponents.

Nobody in the NHL hits harder than Byfuglien. If The Hulk played hockey, he’d basically be the Winnipeg Jets star defenseman. Much like The Hulk, Byfuglien can become downright unstoppable and uncontrollable if he’s on the top of his game.

Brad Marchand – Deadpool

Deadpool has always been a few screws loose in his head. However, Ryan Reynolds created the ultimate version of the snarky mercenary. He’s not afraid to crack jokes and talk trash even while he’s in the middle of a fight. Deadpool might not beat his opponents in the most traditional way, but he gets the job done. He destroys his enemies both physically and mentally.

Boston Bruins pesty star forward Brad Marchand loves to play similar mind games. He embraces his role as an agitator and uses his unique skills to his advantage. Much like Deadpool, Marchand understands every battle is a chess match. If you can get in your opponent’s head, you win.

Marchand will resort to any tactic necessary to get under your skin. Even if that means licking you. It’s hard to verify this, but would anyone be surprised if Marchand just talked trash the entire time he was on the ice? Even while he’s fighting for the puck?

One of the most unique things about Deadpool is he doesn’t really have a moral code. If it benefits him, he’ll do it. But if it doesn’t benefit Deadpool, he doesn’t care. Marchand has a similar carefree approach to how he’s viewed. Some might view him as a hero. Others might view him as the most annoying man in the world. But everyone knows how good Marchand is.

Deadpool is typically seen as a necessary evil by most of the Marvel Universe. Sure, he’s a huge pain in the butt and he’s not easy to get along with. But at the end of the day, Deadpool’s someone you definitely want on your side. The same could be said about Marchand.

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Alex Ovechkin – Iron Man

Iron Man is one of the ultimate leaders among all superheroes. He’s often seen as the unofficial face and voice of The Avengers, even if Captain America is their true leader. The narrative of Tony Stark, who is also Iron Man, is among the best in recent memory. Marvel made his story revolve around a selfish man learning how to harness his new powers and become a better leader.

One could say this narrative echoes Alex Ovechkin‘s career as well. Now, he has never been selfish. But Ovechkin sure has been accused of it. Last year completed The Great Eight’s redemption from having the legacy of being the best player without a Stanley Cup to cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats.

Everyone knows Ovechkin can shoot the puck a lot and score goals at will. One of his most unappreciated attributes is his durability. Ovechkin has been the hockey equivalent of a fullback in football, hitting everything in sight and taking a ton of hits. Yet he has very rarely missed games due to injury. It’s almost like Ovechkin has an iron suit.

Another quality The Great Eight and Iron Man share is their ability to adapt. Stark can win battles because he’s an adaptable fighter who picks up on weaknesses very quickly. Likewise, Ovechkin has adapted many times throughout his career. Most recently, fans have seen Ovi focus on being less physical because even The Great Eight’s body has its limits.

Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images /

Johnny Gaudreau – Spiderman

Spiderman is one of Marvel’s most popular superheroes. Personally, Peter Parker (Spiderman’s alter ego) is extremely relatable, which makes him popular, especially among teenagers. If you saw Johnny Gaudreau walking down the street and you had no idea who he was, you’d probably guess he was a teenager.

With the mandatory “Gaudreau is a teenager” joke out of the way, let’s get down to business. Spiderman is one of the best fighters in the Marvel Universe. But he’s not like Thor or The Hulk, who rely on a hammer or pounding everything in sight respectively. Rather, Spiderman relies on his quick reflexes and agility.

Gaudreau’s most prominant skills revolve around his agility and how efficently he dodges contact. He’s small, so he can’t win most puck battles by brute strength. But thanks to his quick mind and small frame, Gaudreau can sneak in and grab the puck before opponents know what hit them.

Johnny Hockey isn’t the strongest guy. Nor is he the most powerful. Much like Spiderman, Gaudreau doesn’t need brute force to win battles. If Spiderman played hockey, he’d treat it like a game of tag, deftly avoiding contact while making everyone who tries to hit him look silly. That’s precisely how Gaudreau plays.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images /

Brent Burns – Sasquatch

When people hear the name “Sasquatch”, they probably think of the mythical creature who appears in beef jerky commercials. But Marvel fans immediately recall the X-Man who resembles a large version of Cousin It from The Adams Family.

Now, Gritty might resemble Sasquatch if he rolled around in a mound of Cheetos dust for a while. But if he shaved down a little bit, he’d resemble Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks. When Sasquatch is in his true form, he has superhuman strength, durability, and endurance. In one comic, he proves to be a worthy adversary of The Hulk. Burns doesn’t quite have that level of power, but as an elite athlete, he comes pretty darn close.

One of Sasquatch’s defining features is his teeth. He has extremely sharp fangs. Just like Sasquatch, Burns’ defining quality are his teeth. Or rather, his complete lack of them. Both of them have an unmistakable, unforgettable smile.

Sasquatch’s alter ego, Walter Langkowski, was a football player before joining the X-Men. So Burns and Sasquatch have quite a bit in common. They’re both forces to be reckoned with. Both look like they belong out in the wild and are extremely hairy. And both have lovable personalities.

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P.K. Subban – Black Panther

Black hockey players are hard to come by in the NHL. But there have been some great ones. Willie O’Ree was the first to make the NHL. Since then, his legend has been passed on from generation to generation. Sound familiar? It should. That’s pretty much the plot of Black Panther. The Black Panther of the NHL is Nashville Predators star defenseman P.K. Subban.

In the Marvel Universe, the Black Panther is one of the most cunning superheroes. Few can match his intellect and athleticism. Subban comes about as close as someone could come without the help of vibranium.

T’Challa is the modern Black Panther. He’s a charismatic leader who always thinks about his people. During the recent Marvel movie, T’Challa becomes more aware of the world around him and the human duty to help others in need. Few NHL players are better at helping those in need than Subban. He has a passion for helping others and is often seen at charitable events.

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Even though T’Challa changes during the movie, he remains extremely loyal to his people. Likewise, Subban remains one of Montreal’s favorite sons, even though he hasn’t put on a Canadiens sweater for several years.

At the end of Black Panther, T’Challa embraces his role as someone who kids look up to. Subban happily fulfills that role.

Sidney Crosby – Captain America

While Sidney Crosby is Canadian, he shares a ton of qualities with the best leader in the Marvel Universe, Captain America. He isn’t the most powerful superhero. Nor is he the most athletic. Captain America’s powers aren’t even that impressive compared to, say, The Hulk or Thor. But his leadership abilities and all-around powers make him a natural leader of any group he’s a part of.

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In recent years, Crosby has proven he’s a lot like Captain America. Connor McDavid has surpassed him in skill. But don’t count Crosby out. While his speed and power are steadily declining, he’s still one of the most talented hockey players in the world. What sets him apart from everyone else is his intelligence.

Crosby, much like Captain America, is obsessed with winning. Whenever Captain America sees a weakness, he takes care of it. Crosby is the same way. If there’s a tiny wrinkle in his game, he’ll relentlessly iron it until it goes away.

Steve Rogers, who is Captain America’s alter ego, had to come back from being frozen underwater. Crosby has had his fair share of injuries, including numerous concussions that have cost him a healthy portion of his best years. But just like Rogers, Sid The Kid doesn’t go away that easily.

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Captain America’s a superhero you want on your side. Many NHL players feel the same way about Crosby.

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