Finding the right line combinations is key to any hockey team’s success, and it can often take several seasons to find the perfect trio. Once the right one is in place, two players will usually develop stronger chemistry because of their complementary playing styles. There have been some stand-out duos in the NHL so far this season, but these five are at the top of the list.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs – Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner
Auston Matthews was recently named the 26th captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is a two-time 60-goal scorer and won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2021-22. He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2016-17. Last season, he scored 69 goals in 81 games and finished with 107 points, the most he has ever scored in a year. His speed and agility make him a threat no matter where he is on the ice.
Last season, Mitch Marner scored 26 goals in 69 games and faced some criticism for having a bit of an off year. Marner is an elite playmaker and one of the cornerstones in Toronto. He is a strong player who thrives under pressure and will no doubt use last season’s criticism as motivation going into this year. He is entering the final year of his contract, and this summer has been full of speculation on whether or not the Leafs will re-sign him. The Matthews, Marner combination is a dangerous one-two punch that could have the team poised for a deep playoff run this season.
4. Colorado Avalanche – Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen
The Colorado Avalanche were eliminated in the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, however, Nathan MacKinnon fully plans to chase another championship this season. Colorado still managed to put up 107 points on the year. MacKinnon ended the season with a career high 51 goals and 89 assists for 140 points. He was the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft and has since been a driving force for the Avalanche. He is about to begin his 12th season in the league and has so far had six season with 30 or more goals. He has the ability to dominate all aspects of the offensive game and will now finish out his career in Colorado.
Mikko Rantanen may not be as flashy as MacKinnon, however, he is a strong, dependable forward. At 6’4 and 215 pounds, the right winger is a strong skater and has the ability to make plays out of thin air. Last season he played in 80 regular season games and scored 42 goals and had 104 points. He has a dangerous shot, and could very well have a 50-goal season this year.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning – Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov
The Tampa Bay Lightning made an early exit from the playoffs last season losing to the Florida Panthers in the first round. However, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov are determined to keep the Lightning among the NHL’s most elite. Kucherov remained one of the league’s top scorers racking up 144 points last season. He also won the Art Ross Trophy for the second time in his career. He made NHL history by becoming the only winger to earn 100 assists in a single season. He was the heart and soul of Tampa Bay last year and the reason they made the playoffs.
Point became a breakout star for the Lightning during the 2017-18 season. Last season, he played in 81 games and scored 46 goals and had 90 points. He was also averaging 20 minutes of ice time per night for the first time in his career. His offensive game was on fire last year and he was a menace on the power play. There is no question that Kucherov drives the offense but it would not work without Point. His zone entries and playmaking abilities combined with Kucherov’s ability to get him the puck are the reason the Lightning are fully planning to chase another Stanley Cup Championship.
2. Edmonton Oilers – Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Connor McDavid is about to embark upon his tenth NHL season and he just keeps getting better. Last season, the Edmonton Oilers clawed their way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final after trailing 3-0 and McDavid is the reason. In 25 postseason games, he scored 42 points the fourth most in one postseason in NHL history. He has won the Art Ross Trophy five times and is only 18 points away from hitting 1,000. He has an outstanding work ethic and will no doubt be right back at it this season in the quest for his first Stanley Cup.
Related: Edmonton Oilers with 100-Point Seasons
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a constant in Edmonton. He has been a member of the Oilers for 13 seasons. He has been through nine head coaches and four general managers. He is an integral member of the team, playing on the power play, the penalty kill and at even strength. Last season, he played in 80 games and scored 67 points. He is a leader on and off the ice and the perfect compliment to McDavid.
1. Florida Panthers – Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart
The Florida Panthers are the reigning Stanley Cup Champions and Aleksander Barkov played a huge part in that. During the regular season he scored 23 goals and 57 assists hitting 80 points for the third time in his career. In 24 playoff games, he scored eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points. He also won the Selke Trophy last season for the second time in his career. He is extremely disruptive on the ice and very tough to play against making him one of the best centers in the NHL.
Sam Reinhart is a dangerous player no matter where he is on the ice. He scored a career high 57 goals last season, 27 of them coming by way of the power play. He is a smart player who can also be a threat on defense as he was a key member of the Panthers penalty kill. On June 30, Florida signed him to an eight-year extension and are no doubt optimistic about his future.
In today’s NHL getting to the net and scoring goals is more difficult than ever. The players on this list are not only goal scorers but also excel in all areas of offense, which is why they are fixtures on the top line.
