Sometimes, all it takes for a team to reach that next level of success is a duo or trio of players that find chemistry together, so much so that they become next-to-unstoppable. With the Chicago Blackhawks, they have a few, but none more popular than Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. In Tampa, the Lightning relied on one of the best lines in the NHL last year, one that did not include Steven Stamkos, as amazing as that may sound. These two two teams matched up their respective duos and trios against one another, in a battle of the most superior of teams.
The Blackhawks and Lightning aren’t the only teams to have this luxury. In Vancouver, Henrik and Daniel Sedin have a prolonged history of chemistry together and with whoever else is fortunate enough to find themselves playing on the off-wing. Last year, it was Radim Vrbata, who did quite well for himself with a career-high 63 points. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have given the Anaheim Ducks a offensive surge while playing together, putting up close to or beyond a point-per-game each over the course of their playing career.
Following an off-season full of teams making appropriate changes, some through free agency and others acquiring necessary pieces via trade, it opens up a brand new realm of possibilities for the 2015-16 season. Today, we take a look at some new possibilities of offensive duos and trios that could tear up the NHL next season, as well as some entering their sophomore run together.
The 2015-16 Trios to Look Out For
Ondrej Palat – Tyler Johnson – Nikita Kucherov
Last year’s most dominant line, Johnson centered the Lightning’s top offensive unit and put on a goal-scoring clinic. The undrafted center had a 7th-round selection on one wing and Kucherov on the other, and together, dubbed the “Triplets” line, tore up the NHL. Finishing in the team’s top five in scoring, led by Johnson’s 72 points in 77 games, their dominance carried over through the post-season, when all three managed to score more goals than Stamkos. Johnson, who led the team in goals and points during the playoffs, could have very well walked away with the Conn Smythe if the Lightning would have put the Blackhawks away in the final. Kucherov’s 10 goals and Palat’s eight goals made Tampa Bay’s top line the most dangerous trio in both the regular season AND the post-season.
Carrying over to next season, it’s not likely the three will be split up and they will be given equal opportunity to repeat their success from last season. This will also give Stamkos some favorable match-ups playing on the second line, where he looked comfortable playing with center Valtteri Filppula last year.
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
One of the best underdog stories of last season came in the province of Alberta, where the Calgary Flames made the playoffs despite losing all-star defenseman Mark Giordano. Probably the biggest reason to their success was the amazing chemistry and leadership of the top line, consisting of 31-year-old Hudler and two youngsters in Monahan and Gaudreau. The kid they call “Johnny Hockey” put up an impressive 64 points in 80 games in his first full season with the Flames, and did not look out of place despite weighing only 150 pounds. Monahan managed to almost double his point total from the season before, scoring 31 goals and 62 points. Hudler, a nine-year veteran, set career-highs in goals (31), assists (45) and points (76), hitting plateaus in each statistical category for the first time in his career. The trio also managed to push the Flames into the second round of the playoffs, edging the Vancouver Canucks thanks to a wonderful performance from their top line.
The one thing that was evident in last year’s run was their lack of depth offensively. They addressed that to an extent when Michael Frolik was signed to a five-year deal. The move improved the top-six, allowing the top trio to remain in tact, while gaining access to some secondary scoring on the second line. As Hudler enters the final year of his contract before hitting unrestricted status, and both Monahan and Gaudreau will complete their contracts before becoming restricted free agents, it will be interesting to see if they can repeat their domination, enough to stick together for a few more years.
Filip Forsberg – Mike Ribeiro – James Neal
Ribeiro and Neal had played together before, during their team in Dallas, spanning from 2008 to 2011. In fact, it had been somewhat of a resurgence for Ribeiro at the time, who had gone from being run out of Montreal to being one of the Stars’ most productive players. With Neal on his wing, the team had a 1-2 punch to push them ahead. Fast forward a few seasons later and once again, Ribeiro turns his career around with Neal on his wing. Only this time, the line played with a young rookie that put up more points than any other rookie that year.
Forsberg burst onto the scene, coming over from Washington in what is now known as one huge mistake of a trade. Ribeiro had two lethal scoring options on both wings, and the result was Forsberg scoring 26 goals, while Neal added 23 goals. Forsberg finished on top of the team’s scoring chart, while Ribeiro was just one point behind. Neal managed just 37 points but also played 67 games. In the playoffs the Predators only lasted six games, losing out to the Blackhawks, but both Forsberg and Neal scored 4 goals each, while Ribeiro added 5 points.
With a healthy Mike Fisher in the line-up, along with Colin Wilson, Craig Smith, and the youth resurgence, Nashville has the depth to contend in the Western Conference. If anything fails, they have a solid foundation built on the blue line and a world-class goaltender in Pekka Rinne to hold things down.
David Perron – Sidney Crosby – Phil Kessel
When Perron was added at the deadline last year, he and Crosby formed somewhat of a profitable relationship for the Penguins, as they pushed to make the playoffs. While their chemistry cooled off towards the end, there was definitely something there to work on for next season. With the argument in Pittsburgh always directly relating to a lack of depth on the wing, and acceptable wingers to play with both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh brought in some reinforcements, signing Sergei Plotnikov to a one-year deal and trading for Kessel. Now, the world’s best player has a deadly sniper that has the wheels to get past defenders and along with his deceitful speed comes a wrist-shot that makes a fool out of goaltenders. No ifs, ands, buts or hot dogs about it, Kessel is one of the elite goal-scoring wingers in the NHL and alongside Crosby, it’ll be a disappointment if he doesn’t hit 40 goals.
The move also allows some flexibility on the next two lines. Malkin could have his choice between Patric Hornqvist, Plotnikov, Chris Kunitz and Beau Bennett. A third line centered by either Eric Fehr or Nick Bonino will certainly provide depth at both the wing and center position.
Brandon Saad – Ryan Johansen – Nick Foligno
The Columbus Blue Jackets were absolutely walloped with injuries last season, missing more man-games than any other team in the league, and by a fair margin. Despite being decimated for most of the season, Johansen and Foligno provided the team with everything they had. Two of only seven players who managed to play in 70 or more games, they both finished with over 70 points and were 1-2 in scoring among all Blue Jackets players. As a result, they were both sent to the All-Star Game, and Foligno received team captaincy honors in this year’s off-season.
Signed to a multi-year deal after coming over in a trade from Chicago, Saad should serve as an excellent compliment to the top line. He’s posted positive possession stats in each year he’s played in Chicago, and he’s managed his time well, averaging 2.48 shots per game in just over 17 minutes, and posting a 11.3 shooting percentage. With more offensive-oriented linemates and some powerplay time, we could continue to see Saad’s production climb, as it has in the previous few seasons.
The problem in Columbus will be the dollar amount they are paying to some of the worst offensive talent in the league. New Jackets David Clarkson and Rene Bourque were run out of town from their respective teams, Bourque more than once last season. The money they make has put a few shackles on the team in terms of what they can do financially, so they’ll need to rely on their top-line doing most of the heavy lifting.
Taylor Hall – Connor MacDavid – Nail Yakupov
Another year, another first-overall pick added to the roster. Only this time, the prospect they’ve added is a generational talent that comes by maybe once a decade. Touted as the next Crosby, MacDavid will likely be expected to be the savior in Edmonton, where they are chalk-full of young, fresh talent. With the likes of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl and Anton Lander down the middle and some excellent options on the wing, MacDavid could suit well with Hall and Yakupov. Hall has put up two seasons of being a point-per-game player and is one of the best offensive players on the team, while Yakupov is still searching for an identity in the team’s top-six. An easy way to do this is to ride shot-gun with MacDavid and Hall, where your main objection is to find open spots to receive the puck and score goals. Something Yakupov was drafted and loves to do.
This opens up for more creative ways of working out the remainder of the top-six, mainly playing Jordan Eberle with Nugent-Hopkins for a more-balanced second line that is defensively responsible. Perhaps the two lines swap, allowing for MacDavid’s line to receive easier match-ups, while the Nugent-Hopkins line carries out the tougher assignments.
Matt Moulson – Jack Eichel – Tyler Ennis
Finally, with the changes made this off-season, specifically at the draft, the Buffalo Sabres may have done themselves a favor by acquiring some key pieces at every position. Thanks to a second-overall pick landing them Eichel, the team now has a solid 1-2 center depth which was heavily missing last season. With names like Evander Kane, Ennis, Moulson and rookie Sam Reinhart, the Sabres will have a brand new look next season, one that promises to turn the franchise around. While a top-line featuring Ryan O’Reilly and Kane may be the talk of the town, imagine what Eichel could do with Moulson and Ennis on his wings. The trio would be provided with sheltered minutes, a perfect welcoming to the league for Eichel. With his talent alone, Moulson could return to his 30-goal self, while Ennis remains as a complimentary 20-goal scorer. That would provide excellent secondary scoring for a team that could not get it done last year.
With the new changes, veteran Brian Gionta would be tasked with less minutes on the third-line, something that could benefit him greatly. With the additions of Drew Stafford and Jamie McGinn, and Zemgus Girgensons continuing his scoring ways from last season, the Sabres have new-found depth in their system and a prospect pool that has taken some hits due to trades but still remains quite strong.
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