NHL Team Lines (Depth Charts)
We created this page because of an apparent lack of an all encompassing NHL Depth Chart/Line Combinations list anywhere. Please offer updates and suggestions as these obviously change constantly, so we will do our best to stay on top of it. Our main resource is the indispensable Dobber Hockey’s Line Combinations calculator, which is now a pay-for resource but at $9.99 for the season, it’s well worth it. Defensive combinations can be found there as well, but we will only include them in the Power Play lines.
Of course, until the season starts, these are estimates based on a number of factors (history, abilities, and most importantly, bloggers’ [including ours] speculation). The reason many sites do not offer this feature is because of how difficult it is to keep current, so bear in mind that we’ll do our best.
Latest updates: 1.10.2012
Pacific Division
I know, no one starts with the Pacific Division. But this is a Kings blog so..
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Forward Lines
Brown – Kopitar – Williams
Penner – Richards – Stoll
Richardson – Loktionov – Lewis
Clifford- Fraser – Hunter/Westgarth
Power Play
Brown – Kopitar – Williams
Doughty – Johnson
Penner – Richards – Stoll
Mitchell – Martinez/Voynov
Updated: 1.20.2012
NOTES: I like the combinations that Sutter has come up with in his short time with the Kings. He is going for three scoring lines (sometimes four) as opposed to Murray’s top six-bottom six Brian Burke philosophy, which is good for the Kings since it allows for higher potential for at least getting one goal per game.
Sutter has done a few things to the power play, however ineffective: whoever the top two lines are, those are your power play lines. Simple. He also has mostly kept 2 defensemen on the point on both units, getting Willie Mitchell into the mix. Just recently, he split Richards onto the second unit which I think was the first time this happened all season.
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Forward Lines
Perry – Getzlaf – Ryan
Hagman – Koivu – Selanne
Blake – Cogliano – Bonino
Belesky – Pelley – Parros
Power Play
Perry – Getzlaf – Selanne
Fowler – Visnovsky
Blake – Koivu – Ryan
Beauchemin – Sbisa
Updated: 1.20.2012
NOTES: Upon Jason Blake’s triumphant return.
DALLAS STARS
Forward Lines
Ott – Benn - Ryder
Morrow – Wandell – Eriksson
Nystrom – Fiddler – Dvorak
Peterson – Vincour – Dowell
Power Play
Morrow – Benn – Ryder
Eriksson - Souray/Daley
Ott – Wandell – Morrow
Goligoski – Robidas
Updated: 1.20.2012
NOTES: After Ribiero’s injury, this is how they’ve adjusted. Earlier combinations based on this post from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.
PHOENIX COYOTES
Forward Lines
Whitney – Langkow – Doan
Gordon – Korpikoski – Vrbata
Boedker – Pouliot – Pyatt
Torres - Brule – Chipchura/Bissonnette
Power Play
Vrbata – Langkow – Doan
Whitney – Yandle
Boedker – Brule – Pyatt
Korpikoski – Ekman-Larsson
Updated 1.20.2012
NOTES: The Power Play combos are a bit of a guess as far as who is where on the second unit. It also looks like Ekman-Larsson might be getting time on the top unit.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Forward Lines
Marleau – Thornton – Pavelski
Clowe – Couture -Ferriero
Mitchell – Handzus – McGinn
Murray – McLaren – Winchester
Power Play
Marleau – Thornton – Couture
Pavelski – Boyle
Ferriero – Handzus – Wingells
Demers – Burns
Updated 1.20.2012
NOTES: Little Joe skating on the top line now.
Northwest Division
CALGARY FLAMES
Forward Lines
Iginla – Moss – Tanguay
Glencross – Jokinen – Stempniak
Bourque – Horak – Jackman
Hagman – Stajan – Kostopoulos
Power Play
Iginla – Moss – Stempniak
Tanguay – Giordano
Bourque – Jokinen – Stempniak
Babchuk – Bouwmeester
Updated 10.11.2011
NOTES: How they look after two less than impressive games. Things will change a little when Backlund gets healthy.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Forward Lines
Mueller – Duchene – Hedjuk
Jones – Stastny – Kobasew
Landeskog – O’Reilly – Winnik
Galiardi – McClement – Porter/McLeod
Power Play
Jones – Stastny – Mueller
Duchene – Johnson
Landeskog – O’Reilly – Hedjuk
Kobasew – Quincey
Updated 10.11.2011
NOTES: How they look after two games, though I’m not sure which defenseman plays with which PP unit.
EDMONTON OILERS
Forward Lines
Hall – Nugent-Hopkins – Hemsky
Smyth – Belanger – Eberle
Paajarvi – Horcoff – Jones
Petrell – Lander – Hordichuk
Power Play
Hall – Nugent-Hopkins – Hemsky
Petry – Gilbert
Smyth – Belanger/Omark – Eberle
Paajarvi – Barker
Updated 10.11.2011
NOTES: Reported by the Edmonton Oilers official twitter account. Thanks also to Copper and Blue, one of the best SB Nation blogs.
MINNESOTA WILD
Forward Lines
Heatley – Koivu – Setoguchi
Latendresse – Cullen – Bulmer
Gillies – Brodziak – Clutterbuck
Kassian – Powe – Johnson
Power Play
Heatley – Koivu – Setoguchi
Spurgeon – Zidlicky
Latendresse – Cullen – Clutterbuck
Stoner – Zanon
Updated 10.11.2011
NOTES: How the surprisingly decent Wild are looking after three games.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Forward Lines
D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Burrows
Higgins – Malholtra – Hansen
Sturm – Hodgson – Samuelsson
Lapierre – Volpatti – Weise
Power Play
D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Burrows
Samuelsson – Edler
Sturm – Higgins – Hodgson
Bieksa – Salo
NOTES: The Canucks’ website has a depth chart on it, but this is how they skated in the opener against Pittsburgh.
Central Division
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Forward Lines
Brunette – Toews – Sharp
Carcillo – Kane – Hossa
Bickell – Bolland – Frolik
Saad – Kruger – Mayers
Power Play
Sharp – Toews – Kane
Keith – Brunette
Saad – Frolik – Hossa
Seabrook – Leddy
Updated 10-11-11
NOTES: Reported on Twitter by Tracey Myers. The Blackhawks website also has a depth chart, but it does make a point of saying UNOFFICIAL. Some info also coming from Tim Sassone’s post on the Daily Herald.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Forward Lines
Nash – Carter – Prospal
Atkinson – Vermette – Umberger
MacKenzie – Johansen – Brassard
Dorsett – Pahlsson – Mayorov
Power Play
Nash – Carter – Prospal
Tyutin – Savard/Wisniewski
Atkinson – Vermette – Umberger
Russel – Clitsome
Updated 10-11-11
NOTES: How they look after a few win-less contests. Also thanks to The Cannon for laying it out.
DETROIT RED WINGS
Forward Lines
Zetterberg – Datsyuk – Cleary
Franzen - Filppula – Hudler
Abdelkader – Helm – Bertuzzi
Miller – Emmerton – Eaves
Power Play
Zetterberg – Datsyuk – Cleary
Lidstrom – White
Franzen – Filppula – Hudler
Kronwall – Kindl
Updated 10-11-11
NOTES: Their latest set of line combinations. Also thanks to J.J. from Wingin’ It In Mowtown, which is a Red Wings blog that you should definitely check out. He also noted that another set altogether should be considered when Babcock decides to separate Datsyuk and Zetterberg which inevitably happens at some point every season for a little while at least.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Forward Lines
Kostitsyn/Erat – Spaling/Fisher – Hornqvist
Legwand – Smith – Wilson
Tootoo – O’Reilly – Halischuk
Geoffrion – Smithson – Stortini
Power Play
Legwand – Smith – Wilson
Suter – Weber
Kostitsyn – Hornqvist – Spaling/Erat
Blum – Klein
Updated 10-11-11
NOTES: How the Preds look after two games. Fisher and Erat are out with injuries, stretching this already thin forward group even further.
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Forward Lines
Langenbrunner – McDonald – Backes
Oshie – Berglund – Stewart
Steen – Arnott – D’Agostini
Sobotka – Nichol – Reaves/Crombeen
Power Play
McDonald – Berglund – Stewart
Shattenkirk – Pietrangelo
Backes – Oshie – D’Agostini
Steen – Nikitin
NOTES: The lines after two games. This post was also helpful.
Atlantic Division
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Forward Lines
Parise – Elias – Sykora
Kovalchuk – Zubrus – Palmieri
Henrique – Josefson – Clarkson
Boulton – Mills – Tedenby
Power Play
Parise – Elias – Clarkson
Kovalchuk – Larsson
Palmieri – Zubrus – Sykora
Kovalchuk – Stralman/Fayne
NOTES: As reported by Tom Gulitti on twitter.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Forward Lines
Moulson – Tavares – Parenteau
Grabner – Nielson – Okposo
Rolston – Bailey – Comeau
Martin – Reasoner – Pandolfo
Power Play
Moulson – Tavares – Parenteau
Rolston – Streit
Grabner – Nielson – Okposo
MacDonald – Hamonic
Updated 10.26.2011
NOTES: Source: The Islanders Official Twitter account is killing it. Additional sources: Lighthouse Hockey and Brian Compton. So many sources for the most unchanged of line combination in the league thus far this season.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Forward Lines
Dubinsky – Richards – Gaborik
Fedotenko – Callahan – Anisimov
Wolski – Stepan – Zuccarello
Prust – Boyle – Rupp
Power Play
Dubinsky – Callahan – Gaborik
Richards – Del Zotto
Boyle – Stepan – Zuccarello
Erixon – Girardi
NOTES: After Lundqvist sent their first game to overtime.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Forward Lines
Simmonds – Briere – Voracek
VanRiemsdyk – Giroux – Jagr
Hartnell – Couturier/Schenn – Read
Rinaldo – Nodl – Talbor
Power Play
Simmonds – Giroux – Jagr
Pronger – Meszaros
VanRiemsdyk – Briere – Voracek
Carle – Timonen
NOTES: This is how they looked after 1 game. Broad Street Hockey also has a chart as a permanent feature.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Forward Lines
Neal – Malkin – Sullivan
Kunitz – Staal – Kennedy
Cooke – Letestu – Dupuis
Vitale – Adams – Asham
Power Play
Neal – Kunitz – Sullivan
Malkin – Letang
Letestu – Staal – Kennedy
Martin – Niskanen
NOTES: This is how the Crosby-less Pens looked after one game. Astounding fact: Sidney Crosby scored 16 points more than anyone else on the team, playing only half the season. The fact that they made it to the playoffs is incredible.
Northeast Division
BOSTON BRUINS
Forward Lines
Lucic – Krejci – Horton
Marchand – Bergeron – Peverly
Seguin – Kelly – Caron
Paille – Cambell – Thornton
Power Play
Lucic – Krejci – Horton
Bergeron – Corvo
Seguin – Peverly – Marchand
Chara – Seidenberg
NOTES: Here’s how they looked after game 1.
BUFFALO SABRES
Forward Lines
Gerbe – Roy – Stafford
Adam – Pominville – Vanek
Boyes – Ennis – Leino
Kaleta – Gaustad/Hecht – McCormick
Power Play
Gerbe – Roy – Stafford
Gragnani – Ehrhoff
Adam – Pominville – Vanek
Leopold – Myers
NOTES: After the first game, here’s how the Sabres looked.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Forward Lines
Pacioretty - Gomez – Gionta
Cammalleri – Plekanec – Kostitsyn
Cole – Desharnais – Darche
Engqvist – Eller – Moen/White
Power Play
Cole – Gomez – Gionta
Subban – Markov
Cammalleri – Kostitsyn – Pacioretty
Plekanec – Spacek
NOTES: They went with 11 forwards in game 1, but I think Eller would be their fourth center.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Forward Lines
Greening – Spezza – Zibanejad
Michalek – Da Costa – Alfredsson
Foligno – Regin – Neil
Smith/Winchester – Konopka – Condra
Power Play
Michalek – Spezza – Alfredsson
Gonchar – Karlsson
Greening – Regin – Butler
Rundblad – Kuba
NOTES: As reported on twitter by Ian Mendes. Thanks to Ryan Classic for his help as well. This of course will likely change throughout the season with the growing pains of a young team.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Forward Lines
Kessel – Bozak – Lupul
MacArthur/Frattin – Grabovski – Kulemin
Armstrong – Steckel – Dupuis
Rosehill – Lombardi – Brown
Power Play
Kessel – Bozak – Lupul
Phaneuf – Liles
Frattin – Grabovski – Kulemin
Gunnarsson – Gardiner
NOTES: After the first game, this is how the Leafs lines looked. No doubt things will change when Connolly is able to play again.
Southeast Division
CAROLINA HURRICANES
Forward Lines
Skinner – Staal – Ruutu
Tlusty – Jokinen – LaRose
Ponikarovsky – Sutter – Dywer
Dalpe – Brent – Stewart
Power Play
Skinner – Staal – Ruutu
Kaberle – McBain
Ponikarovsky – Jokinen – LaRose
Pitkanen – Gleason
NOTES: According to Chip Alexander on twitter.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Forward Lines
Fleischmann – Weiss – Versteeg
Booth – Kopecky – Upshall
Bergenheim – Goc – Skille
Bradley – Carter – Matthias
Fleischmann – Weiss – Versteeg
Campbell – Kulikov
Booth – Kopecky – Upshall
Gudbranson – Jovanovski
Updated 10-11-11
NOTES: Through their first two tolerable games. Like I said before, it appears as though the team is heavy on wingers and short on centers, and they also don’t have any clear first line forwards, in my opinion.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Forward Lines
Downie – Stamkos – St. Louis
Malone – Lecavalier – Purcell
Shannon – Moore – Connolly
Jones – Thompson – Hall
Power Play
Malone – Stamkos – Lecavalier
St. Louis – Brewer
Downie – Moore – Purcell
Bergeron – Clark
NOTES: The even strength forward lines are how they’ve been skating in practice prior to their first game, as reported by the TB Lightning twitter account.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Forward Lines
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Knuble
Brouwer – Johansson – Semin
Chimera – Laich – Ward
King/Hendricks – Halpern – Perreault
Power Play
Semin – Backstrom – Laich
Ovechkin – Green
Chimera/Brouwer – Johansson – Ward
Hamrlik – Wideman
Updated 10-11-11
NOTES: After two games, here’s how it looks. It’s interesting that Carlson isn’t seeing much PP time but nothing else here is a surprise.
WINNIPEG JETS
Forward Lines
Ladd – Little – Wheeler
Kane – Scheifele – Wellwood
Antropov- Burmistrov – MacLean
Glass – Slater – Thorburn
Power Play
Ladd – Little – Wheeler
Antropov/Enstrom – Byfuglien
Kane – Scheifele – Wellwood
Byfuglien – Enstrom/Bogosian
NOTES: How they looked after their first game. The official website has a depth chart, but it is not exactly up to the minute.
Again, please send us any corrections or suggestions for where to find this information on any sort of regular basis for any team, other than with Frozen Pool.
