NHL Power Rankings: How Every NHL Team's Top Line Rates

The top line of an NHL team is counted on to be the most productive unit on the ice, and teams usually like to balance the line with a scorer, playmaker and power forward.

While having top talent on the first line is key, the three players on it must have good chemistry in order to gel as a unit.

Some teams like to stack the first line, while others spread the team's talent around through the top two or three lines.

Let's rank the top first lines in hockey, where does your team place?

(All lines are written in the order of LW-C-RW.)

30) Florida Panthers

David Booth, Stephen Weiss, Evgeny Dadonov

The Florida Panthers top line is a balanced line of youth and experience.

David Booth is a very good power forward, but still has yet to reach his star potential.

Stephen Weiss brings experience to the line, and Dadonov is only 22 years old and could become a solid forward.

29) Phoenix Coyotes

Shane Doan, Martin Hanzal, Ray Whitney

Shane Doan is a great veteran winger who still is a good offensive player. Martin Hanzal is a solid defensive forward at center, and Ray Whitney brings years of experience and a good sniping ability to the Phoenix top line.

Not a lot of speed here, but there is intelligence and goal-scoring capability.

28) Winnipeg Jets

Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little, Blake Wheeler

The Winnipeg Jets will bring new excitement to the NHL and Canada this season after their move from Atlanta, and they have a good first line.

Andrew Ladd has signed a new contract, and is a very good power forward. Blake Wheeler has tremendous size but needs to use it more to his advantage.

27) Nashville Predators

Sergei Kostitsyn, Mike Fisher, Martin Erat

The Nashville Predators always play good defense, but rarely score many goals. The team's first line is good, but it isn't great.

Fisher and Erat are good players, but they won't light up the stat sheet or keep opposing coaches up at night trying to figure out a way to stop them.

26) Colorado Avalanche

David Jones, Paul Stastny, Milan Hejduk

The Colorado Avalanche are a team on the rise, with many good young players.

Their first line mixes youth with experience, as Milan Hejduk adds his playoff experience to Paul Stastny and David Jones' youth and goal-scoring ability.

25) Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall, Shawn Horcoff, Jordan Eberle

The Edmonton Oilers first line is led by two very good young players: 2010 top pick Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.

Shawn Horcoff is also a good two-way forward.

24) Ottawa Senators

Nick Foligno, Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson

The Ottawa Senators have one of the best centers in the league, Jason Spezza, leading their first line alongside veteran Daniel Alfredsson.

Alfredsson isn't the elite player he used to be, but he's still a very good playmaker.

Nick Foligno is a good two-way forward who adds some toughness to this line.

23) New York Islanders

Matt Moulson, John Tavares, Kyle Okposo

The New York Islanders are slowly building a very good young team, and their first line is solid all around.

John Tavares is becoming a superb player and just signed a new six-year contract with the team. Kyle Okposo is a solid young power forward, and Matt Moulson is a sniper who can score goals.

A very good line for the Islanders.

22) St. Louis Blues

Andy McDonald, David Backes, TJ Oshie

The St. Louis Blues have a good top line with TJ Oshie returning from injury. Oshie is a very good two-way forward with goal-scoring ability, and the toughness of David Backes at center really gives this line energy.

Andy McDonald adds veteran experience and passing skill to the line.

21) Toronto Maple Leafs

Joffrey Lupul, Tim Connolly, Phil Kessel

The success of the Toronto Maple Leafs first line is going to be determined by the health of center Tim Connolly, who has the ability to be the No. 1 center Phil Kessel needs to fulfill his potential.

Kessel has 40-goal potential, and he needs a good center to help him achieve that. If Connolly can stay healthy he will greatly help the Maple Leafs offense this season.

20) Calgary Flames

Alex Tanguay, Brendan Morrison, Jarome Iginla

This line is filled with experience and skill at each position.

Alex Tanguay is a Stanley Cup winner who still is very good on the wings, and signed a new contract extension with the Flames this summer.

Brendan Morrison is a very good center with solid passing skills, while Jarome Iginla is the best power forward in hockey, and at age 34 is still an elite scorer.

19) Philadelphia Flyers

Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr

The Philadelphia Flyers traded captain and first-line center Mike Richards to the L.A. Kings this summer, so superstar-in-the-making Claude Giroux takes his spot on the top line at center.

Scott Hartnell is a good scorer alongside him at left wing, and adds toughness to the line too.

Jaromir Jagr is back in the NHL and will add veteran experience and scoring to the Flyers top line.

18) Buffalo Sabres

Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville

The Buffalo Sabres top line is balanced as well, with sniper Thomas Vanek alongside two playmakers in Derek Roy and Jason Pominville.

Defenses have to be aware at all times when going up against this line.

17) Dallas Stars

Brendan Morrow, Mike Ribeiro, Loui Eriksson

The Dallas Stars offense took a major blow when it lost center Brad Richards to free agency this summer, but it is still very talented.

Loui Eriksson is one of the next superstars of hockey, and Brendan Morrow and Mike Ribeiro are very good players as well.

16) Carolina Hurricanes

Alex Ponikarovsky, Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner

The Carolina Hurricanes have one of the best centers in hockey leading the top line in Eric Staal, who is a great scorer and playmaker.

Jeff Skinner was the 2011 Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year, and Alex Ponikarovsky is a solid player too.

This line could be very dangerous this season.

15) Pittsburgh Penguins

Pascal Dupuis, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz

Evgeni Malkin will take over the Pittsburgh Penguins top line this year when Sidney Crosby is out battling concussion symptoms, and must carry the team offensively.

He is joined on the wings by Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, who bring toughness and good defensive skills to the top line in Pittsburgh.

14) Los Angeles Kings

Dustin Penner, Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams

Anze Kopitar leads the Los Angeles Kings top line at center, and is one of the premier players in hockey. He is a great passer and can score lots of goals too.

Dustin Penner offers size and strength as a power forward, and Justin Williams is a sniper who can score great goals.

A solid all-around line.

13) Minnesota Wild

Devin Setoguchi, Mikko Koivu, Dany Heatley

The Minnesota Wild made several trades with the San Jose Sharks this summer, and in those deals they acquired two offensive stars in Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley.

Heatley can score goals in bunches, and captain Mikko Koivu's stats will rise dramatically by using his great playmaking ability with two great wingers by his side this season.

12) Columbus Blue Jackets

RJ Umberger, Jeff Carter, Rick Nash

The Columbus Blue Jackets made some good improvements to their first line this summer, and the result was creating one of the best in the NHL.

Captain Rick Nash finally gets some help at center in Jeff Carter, who was acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Flyers prior to this year's draft.

Umberger is a very good two-way forward, and just signed a new contract extension.

11) New Jersey Devils

Ilya Kovalchuk, Travis Zajac, Zach Parise

When all are healthy, the New Jersey Devils first line is one of the most dangerous groups in hockey.

Zach Parise is a top young player in the NHL, and is a great goal scorer. Kovalchuk is a sniper with 40-goal capability, and Travis Zajac is an underrated playmaker.

10) Montreal Canadiens

Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn

The Montreal Canadiens top line is one of the most skilled groups in the league, and Tomas Plekanec and Mike Cammalleri are two of the NHL's most underrated players.

Both have great scoring and passing abilities.

9) Washington Capitals

Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble

Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are two of the most offensively gifted players in the NHL, but they have to improve defensively for the Washington Capitals to finally win the Stanley Cup.

Mike Knuble brings some solid experience to this line.

Ovechkin and Backstrom need to prove this line isn't only successful in the regular season.

8) Detroit Red Wings

Johan Franzen, Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom

The Detroit Red Wings top line is led by center Pavel Datsyuk, who is arguably the best player in the NHL. His unbelievable scoring, playmaking and superb defensive play make him a nightmare to defend.

His wingers, Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom, are both skilled and experienced.

This is one of the best all-around lines in hockey that creates matchup nightmares for opposing teams.

7) Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane

The Chicago Blackhawks first line is absolutely loaded with talent, and Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are two of the young superstars in the game.

Patrick Sharp is a very good player too, and just signed a new five-year contract this summer.

Toews is a great playmaker and is a good scorer too, and captains the team. He could be a Hart Trophy finalist this season.

6) San Jose Sharks

Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Martin Havlat

The San Jose Sharks have an unbelievable first line that is loaded with toughness and offensive skill.

Captain and center Joe Thornton is one of the best passers in the game, and is a great power forward too. Patrick Marleau and the newly acquired Martin Havlat are two very good snipers with proven goal-scoring ability.

This line is so dangerous offensively and will score so many goals this season.

5) Anaheim Ducks

Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry

The Anaheim Ducks first line is one of the best in hockey. Corey Perry is the reigning MVP of the NHL, and Ryan Getzlaf is a tremendous power forward.

Bobby Ryan is a solid goal scorer as well.

There are very few weaknesses on this line, and they are all very young.

4) New York Rangers

Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards, Ryan Callahan

The New York Rangers will have one of the best lines in hockey if this threesome stays healthy.

Marian Gaborik is a top sniper and goal scorer, and now that he has an elite center in Brad Richards alongside him, Gaborik's stats will increase for sure.

Ryan Callahan is the new captain of the Rangers, and is one of the best two-way forwards in hockey. He plays the game the right way, and is also one of the best American players in the sport.

(Take a look at the video in this slide for proof that Gaborik is an amazing sniper.)

3) Vancouver Canucks

Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Alexander Burrows

Despite their terrible performance in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins, the Sedin twins are two of the premier offensive players in the NHL.

Daniel led the league in scoring last season, while Henrik did in 2010.

Burrows is also a good goal scorer, and has solid speed. This line is one of the most potent in hockey.

2) Boston Bruins

Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Nathan Horton

The first line of the Boston Bruins is one of the most balanced lines in hockey. Milan Lucic is a top power forward who also scored 30 goals last season.

David Krejci is a very underrated player, who led the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs in points and goals. Nathan Horton is a power forward who can score lots of goals too, and had two overtime winning goals in last year's playoffs.

This line is so hard to defend with its versatility, size and playmaking ability.

1) Tampa Bay Lightning

Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, Steve Downie

The Tampa Bay Lightning top line has two Hart Trophy candidates on it in Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos.

Stamkos is an elite scorer, and has scored 96 goals the past two seasons. He's also only 21, and it's scary to think about how good he could become when he hits his prime.

St. Louis is a playmaker and a very good goal scorer, and hasn't let age slow him down a bit.

This line is an absolute nightmare to defend, and it's only going to get tougher to stop this season.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter for NHL/Bruins news and analysis. Follow @NicholasGoss35