With the new Hockey season starting soon and teams are putting together their Rosters this time of the offseason us the fans like to play a bit of fantasy Hockey or a guessing game of which player play on which line and so on which is all good fun but I feel there is culturally issue here or a misunderstanding in this country of how lines worked or the benefit of having four lines. In this article I am trying to make sense of this issue in my own way and to look at the history or the evolution of the Lines system in British Ice Hockey and the tactical aspects/benefits of juggling lines and having four lines.
Let’s firstly look at what lines are in Ice Hockey and what they are used for I am sorry for sounding like a fourth-grade teacher. In my own view lines are used to keep the players fresh or to get a tactical advantage on the Ice.
“In ice hockey, a line is a group of forwards that play in a group, or “shift”, during a game. A complete forward line consists of a left wing, a center, and a right wing, while a pair of defensemen who play together are called partners.”
Wikipedia
In Ice Hockey, there are many different types of lines general coaches used this formula as a starting point as follows:
- The first line is made of the best offensive players on the team. A lot of teams heavily rely on this line because it generates the bulk of the team’s scoring.
- The second line is generally made up of the second-tier offensive players, and it helps by adding a second line of offense. Typically first line players may be put on the second line to generated more scoring across the lineup, making a team more difficult for opponents to defend against.
- The third line is often called the checking line because is generally made up of more defensively forwards or grinders. The line is often played against the opponent’s first or second lines which aim is to reduce their scoring or physically wear them down.
- The fourth line is often called the “energy line,” because the aim here is to give other players a chance to rest, and because these players often play a more physically game and sometimes it to give their teammates an emotional boost. This line could be used as other checking line and often coaches put players with strong skating abilities or who are good at winning face-offs on this line and also enforcers or pests often play on this line.
Over the years coaches has evolved this formula and put their own spin on it with a lot of success with teams like the Rangers under Tortorella I know that team didn’t won the Stanley Cup of course it help to have good players as they did that season. Corey also has a lot of success with it just look at his record no one can question that, of course, people could say that he only won one league title but sport is about winning trophies don’t matter how many you win in a season or which one you can’t tell me would Sir Alex swap any his FA Cup medals for one or two more league medals that won’t happened that one thing bug me about modern sport in this country.
Right back to Ice Hockey over the years we saw a change in British Ice Hockey in how lines worked this I think why seems to be a lack of understanding in this country about what lines meant to be used for. In the past teams especially throughout the 80’s and Heineken league days or even teams in the Superleague and the early Elite League days teams used a three lines system which often came down to cost. Most teams ran this system with the first line and second line being mostly imports and the third line consistent mostly of British players or your 110% guys who might not be most offensive.
Of course no disrespect to these guys there but sometimes some British players break into the first two lines. I feel four lines are the way to go in this country especially if you want to improve the national side prospects and to bring through the juniors of course not all the kids’ teams can play four lines due to the numbers of kids on a team but junior clubs must aim to play four lines.
I feel this season teams in the Elite League who play with four lines going to have an added benefit over teams who don’t especially when you are challenging for a trophy but I feel this season going to tight throughout the league with all the teams looking to play four lines.
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the article and any feedback is welcome or if you guys got any ideas for the Blog please feel free.
Many Thanks,
goonsandpucks 