Which team could have the best top line?

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

Pretty much regardless of position because some of these would never happen.

Senators:

Healtey - Spezza - Alfreddson

Avalanche:

Stastny - Sakic - Hejduk

Capitals:

Ovechkin - Fedorov - Semin (Backstrom)

Flyers:

Richards - Briere - Lupul (Carter)

Penguins (biggest reach, all centers):

Staal - Crosby - Malkin

Wings:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Hossa

Feel free to add any. Honestly, I think it would be so much fun to have that top line if only for part of the season. It would be like the Sens with their top line except better. No one could contain that line, they would be insane.

Edited July 22, 2008 by DatsyukownzU13

[Rice 42]

Detroit with Ottawa second. No one can come close to the Wings top unit though, which I'm sure we'll see occasionally on the PP:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Hossa

Lidstrom-Rafalski

[BeeRYCE 2]

I'm far from biased, but the Wings bar none, hands down. The Pens arguably have 2 of the best 5 players in the game on their team, but collectively Detroit, hands down.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

Originally I was going to do this but stating that all players were in their prime. How would that change things?

I could see Washington being an amazing line if all were in their prime with Ovechkin, Fedorov, and Semin or Backstrom.

Also, Pittsburgh could hit the ceiling with Malkin, Staal and Crosby.

The Wings basically have those 3 players all in their primes (hopefully) for next season so it will be interesting if they get out their together.

[BeeRYCE 2]

If we were to say in prime... Well why not Joe Thornton, Jeremy Roenick, and Jonathan Cheechoo or Patrick Marleau?

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

If we were to say in prime... Well why not Joe Thornton, Jeremy Roenick, and Jonathan Cheechoo or Patrick Marleau?

Personally, I have never seen what is so special about Thornton. Granted I have only watched him in the playoffs where he usually fails miserably, I just don't see that much to be amazed by. He has good vision and passes well. But other than that, he's fairly soft and doesn't have that much of a scoring touch. Marleau is fast, but a bit overrated. Cheechoo scores when Joe is on his game so I guess that could work. JR used to be the truth so I could see a regular season line of Thorton, Roenick and Cheechoo being nice.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Thornton, nothing special? You kidding me? He can hold the puck for an entire powerplay, whether it's finessing it or pushing guys off of him and find a way to make passes through 3 guys tape to tape. Thornton's vision and dominance is uncanny. He has amazing accuracy too, and never shows it. If he shot more, he'd be even better.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

I'm not saying he isn't good. But dropping from about a point per game in the regular season to about .5 points per game in the playoffs says something.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I'm not saying he isn't good. But dropping from about a point per game in the regular season to about .5 points per game in the playoffs says something.

I didn't watch much of him in the playoffs other than when he played us... But playing us, regardless of points, he seemed to be dominant on the puck and rather unlucky when it came to opportunities. I think he'll rise next playoffs and maybe even the season not playing under Ron Wilson and doing his own thang.

[Doggy 130]

Havlat, Teows, Kane is a pretty good top 3.

So is Lecavalier, Prospal and St. Louis.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Havlat, Teows, Kane is a pretty good top 3.

So is Lecavalier, Stamkos and St. Louis.

Correction.

Edited July 22, 2008 by BeeRYCE

[Doggy 130]

Correction.

Lol. Whoops.

[Reds4Life 51]

Correction.

Yeah, they are going to dismantle their best line with awesome chemistry (VinnyP - VinnyL - M.St.Louis) and put rookie up there.

Edited July 22, 2008 by Reds4Life

[Doggy 130]

Yeah, they are going to dismantle their best line with awesome chemistry (VinnyP - VinnyL - M.St.Louis) and put rookie up there.

I believe this thread is more about the top 3 forwards and not about chemistry or even positions. It's not meant to be what's likely to be out there.

[Reds4Life 51]

I believe this thread is more about the top 3 forwards and not about chemistry or even positions. It's not meant to be what's likely to be out there.

Well, thread's called "Which team could have the best top line?" I doubt you make best possible top line out of three centers etc.

Chemistry is also very important.

Besides, Stamkos did not play in the NHL yet.

[Doggy 130]

Well, thread's called "Which team could have the best top line?" I doubt you make best possible top line out of three centers etc.

Chemistry is also very important.

Besides, Stamkos did not play in the NHL yet.

Well maybe the OP didn't word the title the best. It's not the end of the world.

[Zion 93]

Thornton is dominant during the regular season, but Cheechoo has fallen off and Marleau isn't normally on their line. Their linemate, Milan Michalek, was often moved off of the top line last year.

[egroen 384]

Thornton's perimeter playmaking style is stymied in the playoffs when teams play so much more agressively. Eventually he will have to use that big body of his to go to the net, or he will always be a playoff bust. Datsyuk finally learned it and his playoff production doubled, even tripled.

Detroit has the compenents for the best "top line" though they might not all play together at the same time very often -- just like Crosby/Malkin/Hossa.

Ottawa's is second best with Pittsburgh in third. Only Ottawa's line will play together on a regular basis.

Edited July 22, 2008 by egroen

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

If Havlat is ever healthy, Chicago could have an awesome top line with Toews and Kane playing with him.

[Opie 308]

If Havlat is ever healthy, Chicago could have an awesome top line with Toews and Kane playing with him.

That my friend is a massive IF!

He hasn't played 60 a season games since the lockout!

EDIT:

Wow, 18 gp followed by 56gp followed by 35 this past season.

I never thought I would say this, this guy is softer than JD Drew!

Edited July 22, 2008 by Opie