Line juggling isn';t an exact science as proven by the best lines in the
NHL. Coaches sometimes load their top talent on one line, hoping that the
superstars will carry the team. Other coaches mix highly-skilled players with
role players. Then, there are coaches who strike gold with an unlikely trio of
linemates.

All three of these coaching styles are among the NHL';s top forward trios. Here
 are the best from the 2017-18 regular season.8. Philadelphia: Jakub Vorachek -
 Sean Couturier - Claude Giroux

As a line at even-strength: 24 Goals For, 10 Goals Against, 70.6% Goals-For
Percentage

Much to the dismay of Philadelphia Flyers fans, you have to credit Dave Hakstol
 for making bold moves to form this line. It';s not very often that a coach
moves his number one centre to the wing but that';s exactly what Hakstol did
when he created this unit.

Sean Couturier had primarily been used as a shutdown centre prior to the
2017-18 season. He had shown his offensive potential but had never topped 39
points, partly due to two injury-riddled campaigns. But Couturier broke out for
 31 goals and 75 points in 2017-18 with an increased offensive role alongside
Jakub Vorachek and Giroux, who were both productive after what some would
consider a down season in 2016-17.

The trio of Couturier, Giroux and Travis Konecny was also a candidate for one
of the best lines and scored more goals together (33), but the
Vorachek-Couturier-Giroux unit had the second-best goals-for percentage at
even-strength. They also outchanced the Konecny line by about six scoring
chances per hour. Their chemistry was evident, both at evens and on the power
play.7. Calgary: Micheal Ferland - Sean Monahan - Johnny Gaudreau

As a line at even-strength: 39 Goals For, 24 Goals Against, 61.9% Goals-For
Percentage

After playing together more than almost any line last season, the Micheal
Ferland, Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau line will be no more. Ferland';s was
traded to the Carolina Hurricanes which means that the Monahan-Gaudreau duo
will be looking for someone to ride shotgun in 2018-19.

Even though Ferland had a career year with Monahan and Gaudreau, the
organization considered him replaceable. There was also the comfort of having a
 big body who can score playing alongside one of the smallest players in the
league in Gaudreau.Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau is one of the most dynamic
players in hockey. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Flames missed the playoffs this season but you can';t fault the top line
for that. As a unit they scored the fourth-most goals together at
even-strength. They didn';t always dominate possession, but they were effective
 at getting chances and finishing them. By the end of the season, Ferland (41),
 Monahan (64) and Gaudreau (84) all finished with a career-high in points.6.
Dallas: Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Alexander Radulov

As a line at even-strength: 38 Goals For, 21 Goals Against, 64.4% Goals-For
Percentage

You might raise an eyebrow at some of the line combinations on this list, but
this was a unit that was destined to wreak havoc. When Alexander Radulov signed
 a five-year deal with the Dallas Stars last summer, many believed he was the
perfect fit to play alongside Dallas';s superstars. They didn';t disappoint.
All three players crested the 70-point plateau, and Seguin enjoyed the first
40-goal season of his career.The duo of Benn and Seguin became more potent with
 the addition of Alexander Radulov. (Michael Connell/Texas Stars Hockey)

They have an interesting dynamic. Many successful lines use the centreman as
their playmaker, while the wingers are the triggermen. On this line, Radulov
makes the sweet dish to his teammates, allowing Benn and Seguin to use their
blistering wrist shots to bury the puck.

Similar to the Flames, the Stars rode one great line and didn';t get much help
from elsewhere. The team only had three other forwards who topped 30 points:
Mattias Janmark (34), Radek Faksa (33), and Devin Shore (32).5. Nashville:
Viktor Arvidsson - Ryan Johansen - Filip Forsberg

As a line at even-strength: 33 Goals For, 15 Goals Against, 68.8% Goals-For
Percentage

The JoFA line, as they';re known as in Nashville, has grown into one of the
best trios in hockey. They began to make a name for themselves in the 2017
playoffs carried that success into 2017-18. Not only are they clinical on
offence, but the trio is solid at both ends of the ice.

Of the three, Arvidsson has always been the surprise star, not just on the line
 but on the team. After he enjoyed a breakout season last year, he';s now a
valuable member of one of the most exciting lines in hockey.Viktor Ardvisson is
 one of the most surprising and electric first-line players in hockey.
(Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

While Dallas and Calgary were plagued by a lack of scoring depth, the JoFA line
 enjoyed having another one of the best lines in hockey swap shifts with them.
The Kevin Fiala, Kyle Turris and Craig Smith unit was arguably one of the most
underrated lines this season, with 32 goals for and only 13 goals against at
even-strength. However, the Turris line was primarily used in the offensive
zone, whereas the JoFa line took on more defensive responsibilities. Although
both lines are top notch, it';s the JoFa line that leads the team.4. Toronto:
William Nylander - Auston Matthews - Zach Hyman

As a line at even-strength: 44 Goals For, 23 Goals Against, 65.7% Goals-For
Percentage

You can see why Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is so intent on keeping the
trio of Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner locked-up long-term.
 Marner has been extremely successful but Nylander and Matthews have formed one
 of the best duos in hockey over the past two seasons. Head coach Mike Babcock
has also pinned the responsible Zach Hyman to their line, and he hasn';t looked
 out of place.William Nylander (left) and Auston Matthews (right) have been one
 of the most lethal duos in hockey over the last two seasons. (Geoff Burke-USA
TODAY Sports)

Since the Leafs'; young talent took over the roster in 2016-17, they';ve become
 one of the most exciting teams in hockey. Nylander and Matthews'; chemistry is
 evident as they combined for some sweet goals during the 2017-18 season.

If there';s one complaint, it would be for them to give up fewer chances at
even-strength. Part of that is the defence';s responsibility but Freddy
Andersen helped the line allow fewer goals. The Matthews line holds a 0.938
save percentage at even-strength but the line is talented enough that they can
offset any goals against by scoring.3. Boston: David Pastrnak - Patrice
Bergeron - Brad Marchand

As a line at even-strength: 27 Goals For, 16 Goals Against, 62.8% Goals-For
Percentage

To think that this line only had 51 regular season games together. Had they
been a trio for the full campaign, they could have been the highest scoring
line in hockey.

Overall, they didn';t score the most goals as a line but they improved as the
season went on. Heading into the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, they
 were the hottest line in hockey and carried that over to their first-round
matchup, outplaying the Matthews-Nylander-Hyman unit.Bruins center Patrice
Bergeron (37) is congratulated by left winger Brad Marchand. (Kim Klement-USA
TODAY Sports)

Even though Patrice Bergeron missed 18 games and Brad Marchand missed 14, they
still ended up with the 14th-most goals as a line. Marchand, in particular, was
 the star here with 85 points despite playing only 68 games.2. Colorado:
Gabriel Landeskog - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen

As a line at even-strength: 47 Goals For, 26 Goals Against, 64.4% Goals-For
Percentage

After the Colorado Avalanche suffered through one of the worst seasons in
post-lockout history, they came back with a vengeance in 2017-18. Led by the
first overall pick in 2013, who probably should have won the Hart Trophy,
Nathan MacKinnon was a bonafide star for his team, spearheading their
surprising return to the playoffs. He was their leading goal-scorer, top
playmaker, and finished the season with a career-high 97 points.

Gabriel Landeskog has been captain for some tough seasons in Colorado but he
rediscovered his game in 2017-18. He eclipsed the 25-goal, 60-point mark for
the first time since the 2013-14 season. Mikko Rantanen blossomed as an unknown
 superstar this season. You can';t only credit MacKinnon for the 29 goals and
84 points that Rantanen buried in his sophomore campaign.

As a line, they tied for the most goals together at even strength. They
weren';t always stellar defensively, but they were lethal in the offensive
zone.1. Vegas: Reilly Smith - William Karlsson - Jonathan Marchessault

As a line at even-strength: 47 Goals For, 23 Goals Against, 67.1% Goals-For
Percentage

So far we';ve either seen lines with three stars or units with two stars and a
complementary piece. However, in typical Vegas Golden Knights fashion, this is
the only top NHL line with three surprise superstars.

This trio of castoffs didn';t just lead the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup
Final berth, they formed one of the best lines in hockey. With one of the most
unlikely first-line centres as the glue of the trio, Smith, Karlsson and
Marchessault tied for the most goals at even-strength together during the
regular season.William Karlsson surprisingly led the best line in hockey last
season. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

Vegas';s leading trio scored 3.98 goals per 60 minutes at even-strength. The
fact that three castoffs scored almost a goal every 15 minutes at even-strength
 is insane. Then again, so is the whole Golden Knights season.

Even though they tied for first in even-strength goals with the
Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen line, they accomplished that in less games and
held better possession numbers at even-strength. For that, the unlikeliest of
trios was consistently the best line in the NHL last season.

Honourable Mentions: Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Alex Iafollo (Los Angeles),
Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier (Philadelphia), Kyle Connor, Mark
 Scheifele, Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg Jets), Evgeni Dadonov, Aleksander Barkov,
Nick Bjugstad (Florida), Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz
(St. Louis), Kevin Fiala, Kyle Turris, Craig Smith (Nashville)

Don';t agree with the list? Who do you think the best line in hockey was last
season?

Stats courtesy of Left Wing Lock and Natural Stat Trick.

The post 8 Best Lines in the NHL: 2017-18 Edition appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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