Potential Line Combinations

October 10, 2008 2:28pm CDT

As the NHL finally is kicking into to full gear (am I the only one who just couldn’t get excited about games played across the Atlantic Ocean?), I thought I would point out some skaters who I’m interested in (and no, I mean from a fantasy hockey perspective – get your mind out of the gutter). Here are six names I would keep an eye on in a draft if I was looking for a mid to late round grab that could produce some pretty significant numbers in 2008.


Steven Bernier
Projected Linemates: Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin
Over the past three seasons Daniel has missed one game while averaging 76 points. Over the past three seasons Henrik hasn’t missed a single game and has averaged 77 points. Obviously, the twins know how to score. What they have been missing is a physical presence who can skate well enough not to clog up the ice and isn't afraid to mix it up in front of the net. Enter Steve Bernier, who fits that bill to a “T.” Don’t take my word for it; here is what GM Mike Gillis said in the Vancouver Sun on September 5th. "One of the key focuses for us was to get a player we felt would complement them," Gillis said. "We actively went out and got Steve because we feel he could be a complementary player for them." Considering the team so actively pursued Bernier, he should be given a fairly long leash, even if he starts slowly. Bernier spent last season between the Sharks and the Sabres, so he will certainly be looking to establish himself and stay in one place for a while. Twenty-five goals and 60 points are nice targets for Bernier if he skates with the Sedins all year.

Jiri Hudler
Projected Linemates: Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen
With the Wings' decision to break up the Henrik Zetterberg/Pavel Datsyuk duo, the team will have a much better balance on its top two lines (especially with the addition of Marian Hossa). Zetterberg, who scored a career best 43 goals and 92 points last season, has recorded at least 85 points in two of the last three seasons and elevates the play of those on his line. Johan Franzen was last year’s playoff hero before being injured, and over his final 32 appearances the man played as if he was Alexander Ovechkin, scoring 28 goals in those 32 games. Onto that line steps Jiri Hudler, who scored only 42 points in ‘07, but that was roughly a 50 percent boost over his 25-point rookie season. Another increase of some 50 percent seems reasonable in ’08, as he'll be skating with Zetterberg and Franzen, which means this right winger could end up recording not only his first 50-point season, but his first 60-point season in 2008.

Michael Ryder
Projected Linemates: Marc Savard and P.J. Axelsson
Axelsson is a solid all around skater, but he has only bettered the 13 goals he recorded last year one time (he had 17 in 2002). He will be the defensive conscience of the line, but we don’t really care about that in fantasy, do we? The key here is, as expected, Savard. Over the past three seasons Savard has 69, 74 and 63…assists per season. In fact, Savard’s total of 206 assists in that time is second only to Joe Thornton (255), and he has scored points at a rate of 1.14 per game in that time frame. He is a big-time baller, so anyone who rides shotgun with him is bound to be given ever opportunity to record some serious points. Into that role slides newly signed Michael Ryder, who is looking to resurrect his career. Ryder was awful last season with just 31 points, which just so happens to be one more point than the 30 goals he scored in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. That’s right, Ryder barely scored more points last year than his goal total in each of the previous two years. During his rookie campaign he also scored 25 times, so if Ryder doesn’t rebound to at least that level this season, then the guy has just flat out lost his once-prime scoring touch.

Miroslav Satan
Projected Linemates: Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal
We could have easily chosen to name Staal here, who goes from third line center to first line left winger, but everyone has been talking about that move. Satan, meanwhile, has slid somewhat under the radar. Crosby is arguably the finest offensive weapon in the NHL, so anyone that skates on his line automatically becomes a must own. In addition, the club has also used Satan on a line with Evgeni Malkin at times, so it appears that he will skate with one of the top weapons in the league no matter where he ends up. Satan, who has been around forever, is being overlooked somewhat because he scored just 16 times last season in his 14th NHL campaign, ending a streak of eight straight 25-goal seasons. It would seem like he would merely need to remain healthy this season to return to the 25-goal level, and he could legitimately be expected to return to the 30-goal plateau, something he last did in 2005 (35 goals), skating with Crosby or Malkin. Not a sexy name unless you are into the demonic, he should still be a potent goal scoring weapon this year.

Devin Setoguchi
Projected Linemates: Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton
Whoa Nellie is right. If the Sharks do indeed leave Thornton and Marleau on the same line, the offensive output could be staggering, especially for Marleau, who will look to rebound from his 48-point disappointment last season to the 82-point average he had in 2005-06. An old man playing only with his cane couldn’t help but score 50 points on that line, and Setoguchi is much more than that. The Sharks' 1st round pick in the 2005 draft, Devin has straight line speed, a nose for the net and a passion to score. Though he recorded only 11 goals in 44 games last season, he scored seven goals in his first nine games while often skating with Thornton. Unless you are in a league with a lot of smart guys, Setoguchi will likely be available extremely late. And if he is, you should pounce.

Radim Vrbata
Projected Linemates: Steve Stamkos, Ryan Malone
Vrbata is coming off a career best season of 27 goals, 29 assists and 56 points for the Coyotes after which he moved to Tampa Bay to sign as an unrestricted free agent. Vrbata has always been blessed with hands and vision on the ice, but he has been held back by what some thought was a lack of passion that often resulted in him being pushed around (he is 6-foot-1, 190 pounds). However, he really took things to the next level last season after scoring just 27 goals in the previous two season combined. And with a potentially tremendous top six in Tampa Bay, he figures to be in position to skate with numerous talented players. Ryan Malone brings offensive talent (27 goals last season) and girth (103 PIM), while Stamkos is everyone’s pick to win the Calder Trophy. So if the trio clicks, Vrbata could be in line for his first 30-goal, 60-point effort.