In ice hockey, three forwards – centre, right wing and left wing – operate as a unit called a line. The tradition of naming the lines extends back to the inaugural 1917–18 NHL season, when Didier Pitre, Jack Laviolette, and Newsy Lalonde of the Montreal Canadiens were dubbed the "Flying Frenchmen Line".
Lines with nicknames
+Line nameMembersTeamLeagueDescriptionDateThat 70s LineTanner Pearson, Jeff Carter, Tyler ToffoliLos Angeles KingsNHLPearson wore the number 70 on his jersey; Carter the number 77; and Toffoli the number 73. Named in reference to That '70s Show.2013-2018The Black AcesHerb Carnegie, Ossie Carnegie, Manny McIntireQuebec AcesQSHLThe first all-black line in the Quebec Senior Hockey League.1940sThe Century LineSyl Apps Jr., Lowell MacDonald, Jean PronovostPittsburgh PenguinsNHLNamed by their team publicist after the line scored over 100 goals in the 1973–1974 season.1973–1976The ConeheadsMark Pavelich, John Harrington, Buzz SchneiderUnited States Men's National TeamPart of the Miracle on Ice team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. All three grew up playing pickup games on ponds in the Iron Range of Northeast Minnesota. They named themselves after the Saturday Night Live sketch.1980The Dynasty LineGuy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Pete Mahovlich (later replaced by Jacques Lemaire)Montreal CanadiensNHL1970sThe Espo LineWayne Cashman, Phil Esposito, Ken HodgeBoston BruinsNHLNamed after their center, Esposito.1967–1975The French ConnectionGilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, Rene RobertBuffalo SabresNHLNamed after the Oscar-winning 1971 film, as all three players were French-Canadian. 1972–1979The GAG LineRod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Vic HadfieldNew York RangersNHLThe name is an acronym for "Goal-A-Game", in reference to the line's high average scoring output.1966-1974The Grind LineKris Draper, Joe Kocur (replaced by Darren McCarty after 1998 season), Kirk MaltbyDetroit Red WingsNHLlate 1990s-early 2000sThe Grumpy Old MenKirk Muller, John MacLean, Mike KeaneDallas StarsNHLNamed after a reference to the 1993 film Grumpy Old Men. When the three veterans played for the Dallas Stars in 2001, they had 105 years and five Stanley Cup wins between them.2001The HBK LineCarl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, Phil KesselPittsburgh PenguinsNHLWhile technically the Penguins’ third line during their 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup championship seasons, the name is taken from the first letters of their last names. Their most famous fan was pro wrestler Shawn Michaels, aka “The Heartbreak Kid”.2016-2017The HOT LineBobby Hull, Anders Hedberg, Ulf NilssonWinnipeg JetsWHAThey achieved this name because of their incredibly fast, high-scoring, and explosive offensive style.1974–1978The Kid LineBusher Jackson, Joe Primeau, Charlie ConacherToronto Maple LeafsNHLAt the time of the line's formation, Primeau was 23 years old, while both Conacher and Jackson were only 18.1930-1938http://www.sportshall.ca/accessible/hm_profile.php?i=76nhl.comThe KLM LineVladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov Soviet national teamThe KLM Line was the top line on the dominant Soviet national teams of the 1980s. They won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics. Together with the top defensive pairing of Slava Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov, the five of them were collectively known as "The Green Unit" because of the green jerseys they wore in practice.1980sThe Kraut LineMilt Schmidt, Woody Dumart, Bobby BauerBoston BruinsNHLNamed for the German ancestry shared by all three, who grew up together in Kitchener, Ontario.1936–1947The Legion of DoomEric Lindros, John LeClair, Mikael RenbergPhiladelphia FlyersNHLNamed as all weighed over 220 pounds, ranged from 6'2" to 6'4" tall, and had a very physical playing style.1994–1997The LILCO LineBilly Harris, Clark Gillies, Bryan TrottierNew York IslandersNHLNamed after the Long Island Lighting Company because they lit the lamps so often with their goal-scoring.1970sThe Mafia LinePhil Esposito, Don Maloney, Don MurdochNew York RangersNHLNamed for the "godfather" Phil Esposito and his two "dons", Don Maloney and Don Murdoch.late 1970sThe Merlot LineGregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton, Daniel PailleBoston BruinsNHLNamed after the merlot-colored practice jerseys they would wear as the team's fourth line. They helped the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011.2010-2014The Perfection LinePatrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David PastrňákBoston BruinsNHL2014–2022The Pizza LineDany Heatley, Jason Spezza, Daniel AlfredssonOttawa SenatorsNHLIn 2005, the Ottawa Senators ran a promotion with Canadian pizza restaurant Pizza Pizza where fans in attendance at home games would get free slices of pizza if the Senators scored five or more goals. Due to the line's extremely high scoring output, the promotion went into effect much more often than anticipated.2005-2009nhl.comthehockeynews.comThe Pony LineDoug Bentley, Max Bentley, Bill MosienkoChicago BlackhawksNHLAll three players on the line stood less than 5'10" and weighed under 160 lbs.1940-1943, 1945-1948nhl.comThe Production LineSid Abel, Gordie Howe, Ted LindsayDetroit Red WingsNHLNamed in reference to their prolific goal production as well as the automotive industry in Detroit. The line was put together by head coach Tommy Ivan in 1947.1947-1952The Punch LineHector "Toe" Blake, Elmer Lach, Maurice "Rocket" RichardMontreal CanadiensNHLThe trio was the top line on the Montreal Canadiens from 1943 to 1948 and won two Stanley Cups.1943–1948The S LineNels Stewart, Babe Siebert, Hooley SmithMontreal MaroonsNHL1927–1932The Triple Crown LineDave Taylor, Charlie Simmer, Marcel DionneLos Angeles KingsNHLNamed after their achievements; in 1980–81, the trio combined for 328 points to become the first line in NHL history where each player scored 100 points or more in the same season.1979–1984The Trio GrandeMike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Bryan TrottierNew York IslandersNHLThe Trio Grande won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders in the 1980s, and all three are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.1980sThe Uke LineJohnny Bucyk, Bronco Horvath, Vic StasiukBoston BruinsNHLNamed for their common Ukrainian heritage.1957–1961The West Coast ExpressMarkus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, Todd BertuzziVancouver CanucksNHLNamed as a reference to the local commuter rail service of the same name.2000–2006The Sleepover LineTyler Toffoli, Macklin Celebrini, Will SmithSan Jose SharksNHLNamed for a viral moment in which veteran Tyler Toffoli slept on a cot in then-rookies Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini's hotel room.2025-2026 The Wife LineLaura Stacey, Marie-Philip Poulin, Abby RoqueMontreal VictoirePWHLNamed for the fact that Poulin and Stacey are married.2025-2026
See also The Russian Five
References