Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
In this one we'll be choosing the line we feel has been the best in hockey through the first 15 games or so of this season.
Todd Cordell: Jaden Schwartz - Jori Lehtera - Vladimir Tarasenko
I've watched quite a bit of St. Louis this season and the Schwartz - Lehtera - Tarasenko has been as good of a line as I've seen on a consistent basis.
They were the kick-starters in the Blues' seven-game winning streak and have produced excellent numbers in a very tough Western Conference.
Tarasenko is 5th in the NHL with 21 points in 16 games, and has a few goal of the year candidates to his name, while Schwartz and Lehtera are both averaging a point per game as well.
Not only are they finding the scoresheet, but they're driving possession at an incredible rate as St. Louis is getting ~56% of the shot attempts with that line on the ice at even-strength.
This line is fast, skilled, strong, and they play a 200-foot game. There's nothing these guys can't do, or haven't done.
Michael Stuart The best line in the NHL is the Kunitz/Crosby/Hornqvist trio, and I’m not sure it’s a close race. Not only does that line have the best player in the world/league’s leading scorer in Sidney Crosby, but it also has two more players who sit top-20 in scoring; Kunitz (8G, 8A) sits 17th and Hornqvist (9G, 9A) sits 7th at time of writing.
Combine that offensive production with the fact that Kunitz, Crosby, and Hornqvist are Pittsburgh’s three best possession forwards, and it becomes abundantly clear that this is the best line in hockey. I don’t envy defensemen in the Metropolitan Division.
Ryan Wilson: Filip Forsberg-Mike Ribeiro-James Neal Listen I love some of these other lines (how could you not?) but when you look at the importance this line has to the Predators and how much they are producing at even strength it is tough to ignore. Any of these lines in the discussion have players who do great on the power play, but I like to use even strength play as my barometer. Forsberg-Ribeiro-Neal are killing it at even strength.
Forsberg has a points/60 average of 3.81, Ribeiro has 3.17 and Neal is at 2.71. When you play the Predators you can focus on that top line because there is a drastic drop off after them. This puts them in a tough spot yet they are still producing.
The Kings 'That 70's Line' has been the most productive this year in my eyes, but they do have the benefit of Anze Kopitar locking down the other top six line. This gives them more freedom. Points/60 for Toffoli is 4.13 (3rd overall in NHL), Jeff Carter is at 3.71, and Tanner Pearson is at 3.30.
So in importance to the team, the Predators trio gets my vote. I have to give the nod for most productive line regardless of team situation to 'That 70's line'.
Ed Stein In my opinion, the best line in hockey so far this season has been Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Patrick Hornqvist from the Penguins. Pittsburgh leads the league in scoring and these players form their top line. Kunitz and Crosby have played together for the past couple of seasons and thrived. Patrick Hornquist has fit in with them better than anyone expected.
The line of Corey Perry-Ryan Getzlaf-Devante Smith-Pelly/Matt Beleskey/Patrick Maroon would have garnered strong consideration from me had Perry not missed the past four games. In several games that line provided the only scoring the Ducks had.
I want to give honorable mention to James Neal-Mike Ribero-Filip Forseberg from Nashville. These guys have been playing great hockey together and are a big reason why the Predators are leading the Central Division.
Tim Chiasson It's easily the Kunitz-Crosby-Hornqvist line.
Fourteen games into the season the Penguins have an entire line over a point a game. That's something that's just not regular anymore. Sure, Crosby is most likely carrying both players further than they should be going but it's entertaining to watch.
With 58 points in 14 games, the Sid & Co. line is averaging 4.14pts/gm (1.17goals/gm). Those are disgusting numbers. The minimum goals anyone on that line is on pace for is 41.
If Crosby can keep his line-mates rolling throughout the entire season we're going to be in store for one of the greatest offensive performances by a line since the late '80s, early '90s.
Honorable Mention: The Tarasenko Line.
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