Home HockeyBuzz Register Login

Top 10 Lines of the Decade

Posted 10:18 AM ET | Comments 8
As we continue to look back at the best and worst of the past decade, let's consider the top forward lines of the past 10 years. It's not often any more that a team will stick with consistent lines over a period of time, but there are a few notable entries to be found. For the most part, I tried to avoid great duos who were mixed with interchangeable parts, unless the played with one player for at least one season (Crosby/Malkin, Sedins, etc.). The top 6 entries on my list are solid actual lines.

10. Backstrom / Ovechkin / Semin
OK, so I may be breaking my own rule with the first entry, as these guys don't always line up together. That' mostly because of the many injuries to Semin. Anytime these powerhouses are united, it's an unstoppable force (except against the Pens in the playoffs). If these guys can stay healthy, we may see this line show up again next decade on the top 10.

9. Datsyuk / Zetterberg / Holmstrom
Over the past couple of years, the line comes and goes, but when the game is on the line, the Redwings have regularly paired these three together. They're money on offense or as a shutdown line. Holmstrom provides the traffic, the other two control the puck. Hard to defend and just as hard to score against.

8. Thornton / Cheechoo / Pavelski
It can be argued that Pavelski was along for the ride, as several others have been with Thornton and Cheechoo, but for at least one full season, Pavelski filled the spot and the line was magic. Cheechoo obviously hasn't shown anywhere near the scoring prowess that he demonstrated along big Joe. And as good as Thornton is at making his teammates look better, he has yet to match the work he did with Cheechoo and Pavelski.

7. Kovalchuk / Savard / Hossa
Often times over the past decade, Kovalchuk was left to fend for himself in Atlanta, but for a time, he had the opportunity to be matched up with equal talent in the form of Marc Savard and Marian Hossa. Had this line persisted, Kovalchuk would have been in the running for player of the decade.

6. Lecavalier / St. Louis / Prospal
The original 2004 version of this line led the Bolts to regularly season domination, and a Stanley Cup parade. It even enabled St. Louis to finish 1st in scoring and win the Hart Trophy. They tried to bring back the magic a few years later, but the line just didn’t click the way it had the first time around.

5. Forsberg / Hejduk / Tanguay
One of the best 2nd lines of all time. Assuming, of course, you consider Sakic & Drury's line the #1. Either way, it's hard to argue against this threesome's chemistry and dominance for the early half of the decade. A huge reason for Colorado's 2nd Cup victory.

4. Getzlaf / Perry / Ryan
When Getzlaf and Perry came in, they were matched up with Penner to form a great 2nd line on the way to their Cup victory. After Penner left and Ryan joined the big leagues, this line became the #1 in Anaheim and perhaps the best combination in the league today. All three can score and it's impossible to pick one of the three to focus in on. Anything good happening in Anaheim these days is coming from this line.

3. Bertuzzi / Naslund / Morrison
For years, this line was unstoppable. The only thing that managed to end their reign of terror was the infamous Bertuzzi incident. None of these players were the same after that. It's hard to remember a line so dominant that left all three players to such a quick decline after being disassembled.

2. Yzerman / Hull / Shanahan
Really, you could pull names out of a hat from the 2002 Redwings lineup and you'd have an unbeatable line. This one stuck for a while and featured 3 of the best players of all time. Legendary.

1. Alfreddson / Spezza / Heatley

This line earns the number one spot because they were so good for a long time. Aside from Alfreddson's injury problems, these three were almost always on the ice together and led the team to the finals in 2007. Since Heatley's departure, Spezza and Alfreddson look like shadows of their former selves. While it lasted, it was the best line of the decade.

To get more free fantasy hockey tips and tools, visit http://www.landsharkhockey.net.
Filed Under:   decade in review   top lines  
December 2, 2009 10:41 AM ET | Delete
Jagr Nylander Straka was great first line in 2005.
December 2, 2009 11:40 AM ET | Delete
1. Does Prospal have a cup or did he play on Tampa in 04?2. Yzerman/ Hull/ Shanahan line wasnt even that good of a line (even if they were a line)3. Pavelski was never on the line when Cheechoo and Thornton were tearing it up.4. No love for Gagne, Knuble, Forsberg?Good list though.
December 2, 2009 12:11 PM ET | Delete
Don't forget the Orr- Betts- Hollweg line
December 2, 2009 12:47 PM ET | Delete
roy vanek afinogenov from 06-07
December 2, 2009 1:14 PM ET | Delete
No love for the A-line?
December 3, 2009 1:03 AM ET | Delete
It was Nils Ekman that year not Pavelski.
December 3, 2009 11:11 AM ET | Delete
A-line deserves to be up there....sykora arnott and elias were THE reason why the devils lead the league in scoring in early 2000s
December 4, 2009 4:38 PM ET | Delete
No love for the Lindros-Renberg-Leclaire line.They were savage back in the day
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to leave a comment.

Blog Archive