Wednesday, 09.30.2009 / 8:53 AM / 2009 NHL Face-off By Rocky Bonanno - NHL.com Staff Writer Line combinations are not as prevalent as they had been in seasons past. Some were so dominant and consistent that they earned colorful nicknames like the "Triple Crown Line," the "Production Line," and the "French Connection." Recently, we had the "Pizza Line" in Ottawa. Finding three skaters that can stick together, find chemistry and play well together is a huge bonus. But more often than not, coaches are requiring their players to be interchangeable and flexible to take advantage of matchups. "Right now it's up in the air. There are so many guys who are the same types of players so you try and figure out where guys are going to fit, where they are going to play. A lot don't have a clue. I know I don't have an idea of where I'll end up playing," Andrew Cogliano of the Oilers told the Edmonton Journal last week, illustrating that not for every team is identifying the top three so cut and dry. On the eve of the NHL's regular season, here are the trios that will be expected to carry their respective team's offensive torch starting with game No. 1. (Lines are listed in the order of left wing -- center -- right wing) Anaheim: Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry -- Coach Randy Carlyle told the Los Angeles Daily News he intends to start the season with his No. 1 line also acting as his shut-down checking line, citing their stellar defensive work in last season's playoffs. "Historically we've played a checking line," the coach said. "With the emergence of Getzlaf, Perry and last year Bobby Ryan, we felt we could play those guys up against anybody's so-called No. 1 line in the League. That's a steppingstone. Are they going to be able to do it this year? Well, we're going to wait and see, but we think they're capable of doing that." Atlanta: Ilya Kovalchuk-Nik Antropov-Bryan Little -- Antropov is beginning his first season with the Thrashers, and Little moves to right wing from center. "It's going to take some time to get used to each other," Antropov told the Journal-Constitution. "Practice and games are totally different. The more you play the more you understand each other." Kovalchuk, a two-time 50-goal scorer, sounded more optimistic. "It's really easy to play with a good player," he said. "When you play with as a player as good as Nik, it's not going to take us a long time." Boston: Milan Lucic-Marc Savard-Marco Sturm -- Sturm was added to this line Monday. Previously, Michael Ryder was penciled in as the right wing, but now that it's apparent that David Krejci is healthy enough to play in Thursday's season-opener, Ryder was reunited with Krejci and Blake Wheeler, his linemates last season on the second line. "Marco has played the off wing before and he feels comfortable as well," coach Claude Julien said of Sturm, a left-handed shot who like playing on the right side, to the Boston Herald. "Here's a guy that hasn't played in a while, and we have to take into consideration if he's on top of his game." Last season, Phil Kessel, now with Toronto, played with Savard and Lucic. Buffalo: Thomas Vanek-Derek Roy-Drew Stafford -- It appears the Sabres have two 1A lines with this trio, plus Tim Connolly centering left wing Clarke MacArthur and right wing Jason Pominville. The presence of Vanek, Buffalo's top goal scorer and the NHL leader with 20 power-play goals last season, puts the spotlight on this unit. Coach Lindy Ruff did try Vanek with Connolly and Pominville during the preseason, but wasn't pleased with the chemistry. Calgary: David Moss-Olli Jokinen-Jarome Iginla -- Moss, coming off a 20-goal season, inherits the left wing spot that opened when Mike Cammalleri signed with Montreal as a free agent. For the first week of preseason, the Flames were auditioning Swedish prospect Mikael Backlund before he was sent to the AHL and Moss took over. "When you're playing with those guys, I don't think it matters where you're playing, you're just happy to be on that line," Moss, normally a right wing, told the Calgary Sun. "Playing the left side, I don't think it's much of a change. "Maybe there are a few adjustments, but I've played left wing before and it shouldn't be a big deal." Carolina: Ray Whitney-Eric Staal-Erik Cole -- Staal is coming off his second career 40-goal season, Whitney led the Hurricanes with 77 points last season, and Cole, who is in his second stint with the franchise, scored 15 points in 17 games with Carolina after arriving from Edmonton at the trade deadline. Chicago: Kris Versteeg-Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane -- This trio of youngsters clicked last season and will likely be reunited for 2009-10. Versteeg had been out slowed by an upper-body injury, so Troy Brouwer took his place for a couple of preseason games until Versteeg returned to action in the Victoria Cup on Tuesday. Kane assisted on 17 goals by Toews last season. Colorado: Wojetk Wolski-Paul Stastny-Milan Hejduk -- For the first time since 1988, recently retired Joe Sakic is nowhere to be found on the No. 1 line. Stastny is the new face of the franchise, and Hejduk, a 10-year veteran, led the Avalanche with 27 goals and 59 points last season. Wolski played center in 2008-09 and had his worst offensive campaign, but he's returning to his natural left wing spot. "It's the real deal now, because we're getting ready to begin," Wolski said. "On Thursday the real deal starts." Columbus: Kristian Huselius-Derick Brassard-Rick Nash -- Brassard, who missed all but 31 games last season with a shoulder injury, takes over the top center position. He was the NHL's Rookie of the Month for October with nine points in 10 games before going down. Huselius assisted on 13 goals by Nash last season, and Nash returned the favor on 10 goals by Huselius. Dallas: Brenden Morrow-Mike Ribeiro-Loui Eriksson -- From the start of training camp, nothing in Dallas has been concrete with surprising rookie Jamie Benn among the League leaders in preseason goals (4) and Jere Lehtinen yet to play because of a hip/groin ailment. The Dallas Morning News reports that at the start of camp, the coaching staff envisioned a line of Ribeiro centering Morrow and Fabian Brunnstrom. However, Brunnstrom has been so disappointing in preseason (no points, minus-6 in five games) that Eriksson (5 games, 4-2-6) should steal his spot. Detroit: Johan Franzen-Pavel Datsyuk-Tomas Holmstrom -- Franzen replaces Marian Hossa, who signed with Chicago as a free agent. "It's a work in progress," coach Mike Babcock told the Detroit Free Press. "We'll see if there's any chemistry. Last year, we came through the exhibition season all concerned about Pav's line because it didn't do nothing all through exhibition season and then it promptly led us and the other lines didn't do nothing. I'm not too worried about that -- I'm more worried about structure and how hard we play." Edmonton: J.F. Jacques-Shawn Horcoff-Ales Hemsky -- The choice of left wing is a shocking development confirmed by coach Pat Quinn to the Edmonton Sun on Monday. Jacques has played parts of the last four seasons with the Oilers and has one career point -- a goal -- in 60 career games. "I still have to pinch myself when I come to the rink," Jacques said. "I'm used to coming in and seeing myself on the fourth line." In explaining the trio, Quinn said he wants a big guy on every line. "The goal was to get some size and grit into the lineup," he said of Jacques (6-4, 217). "We decided to get bigger guys and crustier guys." Florida: David Booth-Stephen Weiss-Nathan Horton -- The three youngsters, nicknamed the "Sunrise Express," are reunited after Horton, who played center last season, was switched back to his natural right wing position. "We feel really comfortable with each other and know where the other guy will be. It's just a matter of executing," Weiss told the Miami Herald. "We have to score some goals and know we're going to have to lead the team in scoring. We put that pressure on ourselves, and it's something I look forward to. I look forward to the challenge because it's not easy to do every night. We're the guys looked upon to lead the team." Los Angeles: Ryan Smyth-Anze Kopitar-Justin Williams -- Several media outlets reports that the Kings will have these two veteran wingers flank Kopitar. Smyth was acquired in a trade with Colorado, and Williams arrived late last season in a deal with Carolina. Each have scored 30 goals in seasons past, as has Kopitar. "Your responsibility is to get the team ready for the start of the year," coach Terry Murray said. "The only way you can do that is to get these guys together as quickly as possible. "I want to see my best players playing together. I want to see the chemistry they have to work hard at developing. And when it does come, its real good stuff." Minnesota: Petr Sykora-Andrew Brunette-Mikko Koivu/Martin Havlat -- Seemingly all the top-six forwards in the Wild's training camp have been bothered by nagging injuries. Koivu and Havlat, a newcomer from Chicago, appear to be locks. Brunette is a natural left wing while Sykora, a recent signing after impressing as a training camp invitee, would need to move from his natural right wing spot. Montreal: Max Pacioretty-Scott Gomez-Brian Gionta -- For much of training camp, Gomez was centering Mike Cammalleri at left wing. The right wing spot was initially believed to go to Gionta, then Andrei Kostitsyn auditioned, but on Monday coach Jacques Martin told the Montreal Gazette that Pacioretty, 20, the youngest player on the roster, will line up at left wing on opening night with Gomez and Gionta suddenly reunited. Martin also hinted that there still could be lineup changes down the road. "We like the performance of Pacioretty," Martin said. "He brings speed and he has the ability to get in on the forecheck to retrieve the puck. He's got a good shot and he understands the game." For those wondering, Tomas Plekanec is centering Cammalleri and Kostitsyn on the second line. Nashville: Steve Sullivan-Jason Arnott-J.P. Dumont -- This trio was first put together a few seasons ago, but Arnott and Sullivan have missed significant time with injury. When Sullivan returned late last season -- his first action midway through 2006-07 -- the trio performed well and led the Predators back into the postseason race. Dumont assisted on 20 goals by Arnott last season. New Jersey: Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner -- Coach Jacques Lemaire will keep intact the trio put together by Brent Sutter last season. But Lemaire has been critical of their play this preseason, citing a lack of chemistry. "No, they don't have it. Not as much as I've seen," he told the Star Ledger. Last season, Langenbrunner assisted on 22 of Parise's career-high 45 goals, while Zajac recorded 18 assists on Parise goals. N.Y. Islanders: Sean Bergenheim-John Tavares-Matt Moulson -- Moulson, a former Kings farmhand with 29 games of NHL experience, lands the right wing spot next to Tavares, the cornerstone of the franchise who is entering his rookie season. "I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing, play with confidence and not worry about it too much," Moulson, who lead the team with four preseason goals, told Newsday. N.Y. Rangers: Chris Higgins-Vaclav Prospal-Marian Gaborik -- According to the New York Post, the strong preseason play of rookie center Artem Anisimov, meriting a spot in the top nine forwards, has had a trickle down effect on the lines. To keep Anisimov at his natural center, Chris Drury has switched to right wing. Brandon Dubinsky, who held out the first part of training camp in a contract dispute, is centering Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery. Ottawa: Milan Michalek-Jason Spezza-Daniel Alfredsson -- After four seasons with Dany Heatley on the left side, the departed Senator has been replaced by Milan Michalek, who Spezza compared to Marian Hossa. "The way he skates up and down the wing, he drives wide real well, he shoots the puck good and he's a smart player," Spezza told the Ottawa Citizen. "I don't know, he just reminds me a bit of Hoss." Philadelphia: Scott Hartnell-Jeff Carter-Daniel Briere -- After tons of line tinkering by coach John Stevens throughout preseason, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported this trio skating together at Monday's practice. Like Buffalo, the Flyers have a double 1A situation with Mike Richards centering left wing Simon Gagne and 28-year-old Finnish rookie Mika Pyorala at right wing on another line. Phoenix: Petr Prucha-Matthew Lombardi-Shane Doan -- Because new coach Dave Tippett has been on the job less than a week, line combinations are still unsettled. The above trio is purely internet speculation. Pittsburgh: Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Bill Guerin -- The Penguins acquired Kunitz and Guerin in mid-season last year in yet another attempt to find linemates that can keep up with Crosby, find chemistry with his artistry, and finish his passes. It'll be interesting to see what this line can do for a full campaign. St. Louis: David Perron-Andy McDonald-David Backes -- This trio first clicked during last season's surprise postseason appearance and coach Andy Murray wants to give them a full season. San Jose: Dany Heatley-Joe Thornton-Devin Setoguchi --There's no doubting the firepower of this potent line, but coach Todd McLellan said the trio still lacks chemistry following a 2-0 preseason loss at Phoenix last Saturday. "It's still a little bit ragged," McLellan told the Mercury News. "Of my forwards, Dany Heatley probably had the most pop in his legs and had a little jump. That's really encouraging for a guy who hasn't had as much training camp. But I guess the question is: Where were the others?" Tampa Bay: Alex Tanguay-Vincent Lecavalier-Steve Downie/ Stephane Veilleux -- Both the rough-and-tumble Downie and Veilleux, a newcomer who spent the last six seasons in Minnesota, are in the running for the right wing spot. Coach Rick Tocchet has praised both players, making this a tough call. Toronto: Niklas Hagman-Matt Stajan-Jason Blake -- Once Phil Kessel returns from his shoulder rehab, expected to be mid- to late-November, look for him to take over at either right wing or center. Kessel recently began skating on his own for the first time since his June surgery. Vancouver: Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Mikael Samuelsson/Alexandre Burrows -- The twins are a constant, but their right wing, not so much. Last season it was Burrows, and he was a revelation with 28-23-51. Samuelsson has experience playing with the Sedins as their linemate at the 2006 Winter Olympics, when Sweden won the gold medal. Henrik assisted on 20 goals by Daniel last season, and Daniel returned the favor on 16 goals by Henrik. Washington: Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Mike Knuble -- Backstrom assisted on 22 goals by Ovechkin last season. Knuble was brought in from Philadelphia to crash the net and bang home rebounds. There is a chance Alexander Semin, currently centered by Brendan Morrison on the second line, could see playing time here in place of Knuble.
So far it's the Thornton-Heatley-Marleau line that is most effective. I also like Afinogenov, Kovalchuk, Antropov. Now if Atlanta finds two Russian defensemen, we'll see the new Russian five.
