daz28 wrote:
X-pensfan wrote:
Creative Center + Sniper + Net Crasher = Successful Line.
quote]
While this may not be the only configuration, nor the best, it shows you're onto something. This mixture has always been the secret to winning. Any coach who ignores these ancient facts will persih. "Riding the goalie" is pretty much a fallacy now. If a coach thinks he can throw whoever on the ice at whatever time like he's playing stingy poker, he will find himself in a bad spot. Gotta love the fortitude of a coach to just play a line like Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry. No one guy has experience. No one guy is The play-maker. No one guy is depended on to be gritty. Most older coaches would try to make 3 lines out of these guys, figuring the immaturity would make all 3 together a waste. If ya wanna rag on the move go ahead, but I think it's a VERY forward thinking move. Sadly enough if makes the Ennis-Roy-Gerbe line look like past thinking. They may all be good enough to be stars, but they're COMPLETELY dependent on their linemates.
To elaborate, I like the way the Flyers structure their lines. They have crafty centers, and they try to get a sniper and a net guy out there with them. Currently rolling out Carcillo/Richards/Gagne as their top line. In the offensive zone, Carcillo is expected to draw a crowd in front of the net and screen the goalie whenever possible. He's good at that, Gagne is a great sniper, and Richards finds a way to bring it all together.
You could have the center be the guy that goes to the net, combined with a Recchi type of play making winger, and a sniping left winger. Like you eluded to, there's no wrong way to bring all those components together and when you do it's usually successful.
The Pens are the team I know inside and out, and they have been doing this since Therrien took over the team. One of the best lines I have ever seen was Malone/Malkin/Sykora. Perhaps, 75% of that lines success was a direct result of Geno's brilliance but his wingers played their roles to PER-FEC-TION. Malone created space for Malkin, and he was always around the net causing havoc. Sykora would sneak around, wait, find the soft spot and Malkin would always find him. His release is epic. Another great Therrien formed line is still used today by the Penguins, Cooke/Staal/Kennedy. Kennedy if the trigger man, Cooke does all the dirty work, and Staal gets in forces countless turnovers to keep the shifts going.
Clearly defined roles, the right players for the right roles, these simple concepts make lines more successful. You don't need Malkin and Crosby to win the Cup, or the 84' Oilers either. You just need the right combination of players.
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