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NHL Preseason Chemistry: Top Line Combinations

By Ryan Ritchie |

NHL preseason has been underway for a little while now, and we’re getting closer to the start of the 2015-2016 season.  We’re at that crucial part where most of what is left in camp consists of players that’ll make the team and the bubble players to fill the few open slots on each roster.

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You need to shake up your lines early into NHL preseason and test chemistry between new arrivals and existing veterans.

Sometimes these guys generate instantaneous chemistry, which usually equals success that leads into the regular season.  Let’s take a look at some of the players creating buzz early into training camp.

Which duo or line do you think will generate the most scoring productivity during the 2015-2016 season of the group listed below?

Tomas Tatar & Brad Richards, Detroit Red Wings

Sep 23, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Tomas Tatar (21) skates with the puck in the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

This pair might be the hottest duo of NHL preseason so far. To a point where Tatar is leading the entire league in NHL preseason scoring.

Now I know it is just training camp, and we need to take things with a grain of salt. But good news in Motown, their offseason free agent signing has fit in nicely already in the top six.

I’d expect that one of Tomas Jurco or Teemu Pulkkinen takes up the third spot on that line. Either of which could be major benefactors if they find chemistry with Richards and Tatar.

The Wings do have options though beyond Jurco and Pulkinnen.  They could conceivably use Abdelkader, Sheahan, Franzan, or maybe even Matha if he can make the team out of NHL preseason.

T.J. Oshie & Alex Ovechkin

Buzz going into NHL preseason suggested that Evgeny Kuznetsov could see extended time with Ovie. No surprise with Oshie slotting in on that top line beside Ovie and Backstrom. Oshie is a natural right winger with a huge skill-set.

It may be more likely that Kuznetsov ends up on the second line.  Players vying for that second line role include Kuznetsov, Burakovsky, Johansson, and Williams.  The Capitals have a wealth of top six talent that could slot in and fill in for injuries.  Look for Washington to be a high-octane scoring machine this season.

The only challenge for Oshie will be staying healthy (much like his entire career). Listen, if a guy like Alex Semin can step up and score astronomical points alongside this elite goal scorer and playmaker, then I’d assume a fully healthy season could garner career highs for Oshie.

Phil Kessel & Sidney Crosby

Sep 22, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

There was a lot of speculation throughout the end of the summer as to who would play with Phil Kessel. They announced it would be Sidney Crosby, which likely isn’t to surprise anyone.

The best question is who lines up next to them.  Early on, rumblings are that Kunitz is likely to slot in on the top line.  However, Perron might be a solid option as well.  I don’t think you wanna split up Malkin and Hornqvist, as they’ve already got proven chemistry.

I don’t expect these two to stay together all season. When you’ve got a guy like Evgeni Malkin on your team, the temptation to stick them together might be too much to bare.

Regardless, early on the duo of Kessel and Crosby have looked fantastic. We’ll have to see if his defensive game eventually is called into question by the Captain though.

Sedin Twins & Jake Virtanen

Canucks fans were likely concerned this offseason trying to figure out who slotted up with the Twins on the top-line. They’ve experimented with Radim Vrbata, Alex Burrows, and Jannik Hansen. To no surprise, none filled in well enough to be considered top line players.

All of a sudden top prospect Jake Virtanen has overly impressed with the Canucks in NHL preseason. He finally got a chance to line up next to the Sedin twins and didn’t look out of place at all.  They actually showed instantaneous chemistry.

He’s shown his skill off and his physical side after laying out Connor McDavid awhile back. Virtanen might be the only option for that top line, so it’s gotta be a breathe of fresh air that the chemistry has been as good as it has very early on.  Hopefully that translates to goal production in the regular season.

Taylor Hall & Connor McDavid

Figuring out the third linemate with these two is going to be the interesting part. I thought the most logical choice would be Jordan Eberle, but we’ve seen the Oilers experimenting with Teddy Purcell on that top line. Even more recently we’ve seen Leon Draisaitl lining up on that right side.

Either way, that third linemate will be a benefactor just like the Jurco/Richards combo. Perhaps the most electrifying duo in NHL preseason so far, McDavid has already been exceeding expectations and is likely to continue doing so as the regular season begins.

All Edmonton fans need to see is some improvement. This team doesn’t have to make the playoffs, but they just have to do better than they have.  Let’s hope they’re not basement dwellers again, because we wouldn’t wanna see riots in the streets of Edmonton.

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