Projecting the NHL's 10 Best Offensive First Lines

One of my favorite sports debates is arguing which NHL team has or will have the most potent offensive first line going into the new season.

It takes much more than natural skill to have a great offensive line in the NHL. Players have to have good chemistry together, as well as take control in certain areas of the game for it all to blend together.

Some of the first lines I have projected going into the 2009-10 season have players that have yet to even play with each other, so a lot of this is pure opinion based on their ability.

I'm keeping honorable mentions out of this in case anyone wants to debate their team's top line that did not make my rankings list.

10. Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Bill Guerin (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Left wing: Chris Kunitz
Strengths: Has some speed. Not afraid to get his nose dirty to score goals.
Weakness: Inconsistency, which can cause him to bounce around from line to line.

Center: Sidney Crosby
Strengths: Sees the play before it happens. Passes the puck perfectly. Very fast skater. Has one of the best backhand shots.
Weakness: Needs to shoot the puck more.

Right wing: Bill Guerin
Strengths: Gets into good scoring positions. Although old, still has a great shot.
Weakness: Not as fast as he once was. Takes games/shifts off.

Line formed: February 2009 after the Penguins traded for Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin
Chemistry ranking: Above average
2008-09 combined player goal total: 77 goals

9. Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils)

Left wing: Zach Parise
Strengths: Never takes a shift off. Drives to the net for goals like no other. Scores timely goals.
Weakness: Sometimes shoots when he should pass.

Center: Travis Zajac
Strengths: Strong on the puck. Possesses good speed for a lanky centerman.
Weakness: Needs to pass more like his linemates do.

Right wing: Jamie Langenbrunner
Strengths: Tough in front of the net. Doesn't take no for an answer type of style.
Weakness: Gets too charged up over minor situations.

Line formed: 2008-09 season
Chemistry ranking: Very good
2008-09 combined player goal total: 94 goals

8. Simon Gagne-Mike Richards-Daniel Briere (Philadelphia Flyers)

Left wing: Simon Gagne
Strengths: Has a laser of a shot that is very accurate. Possesses good speed.
Weakness: Not a great playmaker. Injury prone.

Center: Mike Richards
Strengths: Great all around passer, goal scorer, and defensive player. Natural born leader.
Weakness: Needs to bulk up a little more to suit his style of play.

Right wing: Daniel Briere
Strengths: Originally a center, so he is a natural playmaker. Has good goal scoring hands. Gets open often.
Weakness: Not a great defensive player. Injury prone.

Line formed: 2008-09 season, but Briere suffered from injuries last season, so this line as a whole has little experience together
Chemistry ranking: Above average
2008-09 combined player goal total: 75 goals

7. Alex Tanguay-Vincent Lecavalier-Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Left wing: Alex Tanguay
Strengths: Great passer. Very good skater. Has underrated goal scoring ability.
Weakness: Needs to find more consistency like his days in Colorado.

Center: Vincent Lecavalier
Strengths: Protects the puck well because of his size. Has a great one-timer. Fast for his size.
Weakness: Has a tendency to go into a slump.

Right wing: Martin St. Louis
Strengths: Has blinding speed, and one hell of a shot for such a tiny player.
Weakness: Can play bigger than he is, which is risky.

Line formed: 2009-10 season, but Vinny and Martin have been playing on a line together for several years
Chemistry ranking: Great to unknown
2008-09 combined player goal total: 75 goals

6. Patrick Sharp-Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)

Left wing: Patrick Sharp
Strengths: He can score goals from all over the ice with his great shot.
Weakness: His small frame doesn't allow him to be all he can be.

Center: Jonathan Toews
Strengths: Great two-way player with tremendous hockey sense. Controls the puck very well.
Weakness: Although he is still very young, Toews has not been the most consistent player on the stat sheet.

Right wing: Patrick Kane
Strengths: A great dangler with lots of tricks. He can score as well as he dishes the puck.
Weakness: He's easily thrown off the puck by defenders because he is small.

Line formed: 2007-08 season, but more so in the 2008-09 season
Chemistry ranking: Good
2008-09 combined player goal total: 85 goals

5. Rene Bourque-Olli Jokinen-Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames)

Left wing: Rene Bourque
Strengths: Extremely fast skater. Has a knack for the back of the net.
Weakness: Not a good playmaker. Plays a risky type of game, which could lead to injuries.

Center: Olli Jokinen
Strengths: A beast on the puck. Great goal scoring and playmaking ability.
Weakness: Goes into prolonged slumps. Not great defensively.

Right wing: Jarome Iginla
Strengths: Tough as sandpaper. Great leadership abilities. One of the best overall shots in the NHL.
Weakness: Lets his anger get to him, which leads to him disappearing on the ice.

Line formed: Late 2008-09 season
Chemistry ranking: Above average
2008-09 combined player goal total: 85 goals

4. Johan Franzen-Pavel Datsyuk-Tomas Holmstrom (Detroit Red Wings)

Left wing: Johan Franzen
Strengths: Hard to knock off the puck. Deceivingly hard and accurate shot.
Weakness: Slow acceleration.

Center: Pavel Datsyuk
Strengths: Tricky on the puck with loads of deke moves. Amazing playmaker and a well above average goal scorer.
Weakness: Needs to shoot more because he has a very good shot.

Right wing: Tomas Holmstrom
Strengths: Great at playing in front of the net and distracting goalies. Good at redirecting pucks in the net.
Weakness: A one-dimensional player. You always know what you're gonna get from Tomas.

Line formed: 2009-10 season
Chemistry ranking: Great to unknown
2008-09 combined player goal total: 80 goals

3. Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks)

Left wing: Bobby Ryan
Strengths: He's able to skate well for a big player. He is highly skilled with the puck and has incredible goal scoring ability.
Weakness: His decision-making can be delayed.

Center: Ryan Getzlaf
Strengths: Highly skilled big centerman with world class vision. Intimidates opponents with his physicality.
Weakness: Has a lackadaisical style to his game, which causes him to turn the puck over.

Right wing: Corey Perry
Strengths: Finds the perfect scoring positions and capitalizes on them. Not afraid to lay the big check.
Weakness: Needs to jump into the play more instead of waiting for it to come to him..

Line formed: 2008-09 season
Chemistry ranking: Great
2008-09 combined player goal total: 88 goals

2. Dany Heatley-Joe Thornton-Devin Setoguchi (San Jose Sharks)

Left wing: Dany Heatley
Strengths: Has a hard all-around shot with pin point accuracy. Always puts himself in great goal scoring positions.
Weakness: Not the best skater. Sees the open man well, but not the best passer.

Center: Joe Thornton
Strengths: Impossible to knock off the puck because of his size and skill. Always sees the open player at the right time.
Weakness: Passes instead of shoots in goal scoring opportunities.

Right wing: Devin Setoguchi
Strengths: Will go to all areas on the ice to score goals. Not scared to get physical.
Weakness: As of now, his playmaking ability is average.

Line formed: 2009-10 season
Chemistry ranking: Very good to unknown
2008-09 combined player goal total: 95 goals

1. Alexander Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Mike Knuble (Washington Capitals)

Left wing: Alexander Ovechkin
Strengths: Scores from anywhere on the ice and often does. He's fast and physical. Plays with lots of emotion.
Weakness: Tries to do too much with the puck.

Center: Nicklas Backstrom
Strengths: Passes the puck through defenders with ease. Great all-around vision and awareness on the ice.
Weakness: Slow skater. Does not shoot enough.

Right wing: Mike Knuble
Strengths: Gets his nose dirty and scores goals from the trenches.
Weakness: Slow skater with limited playmaking ability.

Line formed: 2009-10 season
Chemistry ranking: Great to unknown
2008-09 combined player goal total: 105 goals