The NHL column: Here are the league’s 10 best chains when it matters most – statistics tell a lot, but merit, feel and the eye test decide

Dallas’ super chain with Roope Hintz as center scores the most goals in the NHL. Some champion candidates have nevertheless chosen to save on the best powder in the regular season. Here comes a subjective ten in top chain ranking.

The composition of the perfect chain is one of the topics of debate in this week’s episode of the NHL podcast. The big fish of the trade market and the bigger and smaller problems of the All Star weekend are also aired.

“The Punch Line”, “French Connection”, “The Million Dollar Line”, not to mention “Legion of Doom” and “The Finnish Sandwich”. NHL watchers and fans love chains that rise above the crowd and mass-produce goals—and give them imaginative names.

These days, named trios are more rare. To a large extent, this is because chains do not play together in the same way season after season, often being tailored according to who you meet.

Nevertheless, there are many chains that explicitly stand out as a whole – often better than the sum of their parts.

And then there are chains where all the parts are individually so damn good that results are obtained as if by pressing a button. Then it is almost a question of chain combinations that support the stars and ensure that the parts do not shrink together.

The 2022–2023 season offers both varieties.

The statistics provide clear answers

One way to evaluate the best offensive chains is of course black and white: statistics.

The Dallas trio Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Joe Pavelski have scored the most goals this season (34 / February 9), closely followed by Buffalo’s upstarts Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch (32) and Tampa’s elusive trio of Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point , Nikita Kucherov (28).

One might also think that goals scored per 60 minutes is crucial – has drawn the line at chains that have played at least 210 minutes together (stats from moneypuck.com)

Then comes the first one from the Oilers: Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (5.61/60) before Stars Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnston, Ty Dellandria (5.25) and Sharks Timo Meier, Thomas Hertl, Kevin Labanc (4.5 ).

Critical thinkers prefer to check what percentage of the goals scored when the trio is inside turns on the opponents’ red light.

First is Winnipeg’s Cole Perfetti, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler (75%/15-5), ahead of Toronto’s Michael Bunting, Auston Matthews, William Nylander (74.2%/23-8) and Robertson, Hintz, Pavelski (73.9 %/34–12).

Best in test and according to your own eyes

If you give the current statistics a subordinate role in comparison with how chains have performed in the past, what merits there are to show and on the always weighty eye test, the result looks somewhat different.

Among other things, some chains that have not been seen on the ice together at all, or only for very short moments interfere in the discussion. It is a matter of the trio that can demonstrably dominate and that the coaches very deliberately keep as an ace up their sleeve until it really counts.

All at the front is a chain that has played together enough to have an established nickname: “The Perfection Line”. Boston’s trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak has been part of the league’s top three chains for over half a decade.

This season, all three parts of the chain are having extremely strong individual seasons, but have not played together other than sporadically. The league’s best team has not needed its spearhead, but broadens the impact. Once there are playoffs and big games, the parade chain is ready.

Due to captain Gabriel Landeskog’s long-term knee injury, Colorado’s super trio Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen have not played at all during the current season. both “Gabbe” and this line will be on the ice in the playoffs.

Edmonton’s Evander Kane was injured early in the fall, and thus the chain that was sharp last spring, Kane, McDavid, Draisaitl, has not played together for a long time. Now Kane is back, as is the chain.

Toronto hasn’t exactly used Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner together this season — a big reason is how well William Nylander works with Matthews and Marner with John Tavares. Bunting (?) Matthews, Marner still in back pocket for playoffs.

Florida needs winning performances from its stars for the hunt for a playoff spot to be successful. Barkov and Tkachuk in the same chain delivered points, but too few victories. Tkachuk, Sam Bennet, Carter Verhaeghe, on the other hand, have the potential to be a terror for opponents.

Enough rambling – time to rank the NHL’s best chains. The ranking is subjective and certainly not to everyone’s taste. Note that chains playing in teams that are somewhere several floors away from the playoffs are not included. The question that governs the ranking: how will the chain fare in the playoffs?

Voilà: The NHL’s 10 best chains

1. Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Pastrnak

The current core of the Boston Bruins is in for their last dance. Bergeron probably quits after the season, Pastrnak wants a big contract and might not stay with the Bruins, Marchand isn’t getting any younger. All parts of the chain are of the highest world class – put together they are the best.

2. Zach Hyman–Connor McDavid–Leon Draisaitl

Rough playing Zach Hyman is the optimal support for Edmonton’s miracle duo. In the 2022 playoffs, McDavid and Draisaitl scored a total of 17+48 in 16 games. Then the German had broken his ankle. The chain is unstoppable (“brake player” Hyman has 60 points in 50 games).

3. Gabriel Landeskog–Nathan MacKinnon–Mikko Rantanen

Artturi Lehkonen can jump in instead of Landeskog and be faultless. The Landeskog–MacKinnon–Rantanen combination nevertheless lifts to heights that are difficult to top. MacKinnon is not really easy to play with, but “Gabbe” and “The Moose” know how to do it.

4. Jason Robertson–Roope Hintz–Joe Pavelski

Here, you just have to believe the statistics – and the eye test. Dallas’ first chain has been terrible for almost two full seasons already. The properties complement each other in a fascinating way and the chain conjures up targets in no time and without warning. Finnish-American dynamite.

5. Brandon Hagel–Brayden Point–Nikita Kucherov

Brayden Point competes for the title of “best when it matters most”. Nikita Kucherov has scored 93 points in his last 71 playoff games and 75 points in 50 regular season games this season. Brandon Hagel is toiling like an animal and supplementing. A trio that wins matches.

6. Michael Bunting–Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner

So far this season, Matthews and Marner have been separated, but together they give the Leafs a “warp gear” when needed. And in the spring of 2023, it is needed more than ever: “Shanaplan”, Kyle Dubas, the star players: everything is at stake when the playoffs begin.

7. Jordan Martinook–Jordan Staal–Jesper Fast

Perhaps the hardest chain in the entire NHL to face. 25-16 in goal, despite the fact that Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour consistently matches the “Staalar” against the best opposing chains. Only three of the league’s chains have scored more goals this season – and that’s really a defensive trio.

8. Carter Verhaeghe–Sam Bennet–Matthew Tkachuk

Something of a black horse and may turn out to be a black sheep. The chain’s scant four goals per 60 minutes is good, but not brilliant. It still seems like the chemistry has now taken a giant step and then it is a question of a production apparatus that lacks the opponents and lifts Florida to the playoffs.

9. Ondrej Palat–Niko Hischier–Jesper Bratt

New Jersey is the sensation of the season and will go to the playoffs. Most of the talk is about Jack Hughes, but the chain with the captain Hischier and the poisonous Swede Jesper Bratt here is the backbone. The winning skull from Tampa, Ondrej Palat, is perfect as a third wheel.

10. Andrey Svetchnikov–Sebastian Aho–Martin Necas

Not together for the time being during the current season. Still think this is the season Carolina will play for the Stanley Cup and on the way there Brind’Amour will introduce this trio at some point. Potentially a top 5 chain in the NHL. Awaiting Evidence: Number 10.

Thank you for reading.

Sources: moneypuck.com, nhl.com, quanthockey.com, hockeydb.com