In its most recent member survey, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) asked participants about the best female ice hockey players and, like last year, the name Marie-Philip Poulin was the most frequently mentioned.
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So if given the opportunity to develop alongside an active or inactive player, 27.9% of the 401 respondents who voted would choose the Quebecer, compared to 20.5% for American Hilary Knight . Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser (14.7%) and two other US skaters, Amanda Kessel (7.2%) and Kendall Coyne Schofield (4.7%), complete the top five.
Poulin’s exploits on the international stage have attracted attention within the NHLPA for some time. In 2021-2022, the union had challenged its troops for top female hockey player – active only – and the order was essentially the same. Poulin (43.2%) edged out Ontario’s Knight (20.7%), Kessel (6.2%), Coyne Schofield (5.0%) and Sarah Nurse (3.0%).
Poulin was hired by the Montreal Canadiens as a player development consultant in June 2022 and has four gold medals from the Olympics, including three golds.