Third Lines:
I should really just do an even strength scoring comparison, but I can't find that chart right now, and I'm just being lazy... So correct me if I'm wrong here. Claude Provost is a really strong ES scorer. Craig Ramsay and Bob Pulford were quite good as well. Goyette, Neely, and Simmer, also seem like decent ES scorers. The rest are more PP types.
Bob Pulford-Phil Goyette-Claude Provost (7 season vs.x score: 202.3)
- Well, I think this is one of the best checking lines in the draft. Elite defensive wingers who are skilled enough to score and a responsible center who can actually create some chances for the wingers to take advantage of their skill. One of the most important thing for a 3rd line, in my opinion, is the ability to score at even strength, since they often don't get power play time, and this line is a really strong even strength scoring line.
Craig Ramsay-Henrik Sedin-Cam Neely (7 season vs.x score: 203.2)
- I'm a big Ramsay fan. He might be the best defensive left winger of all time. Sedin is an under-rated scoring center - he was one of the guys I thought would drop enough to allow us to use Maltsev on Sakic's RW - though his even strength scoring is a little less impressive. Neely, however, is just such a poor scorer. He's not unlike Cashman in that his physical play has always got him drafted way before he should go.
Charlie Simmer-Bernie Federko-Peter Bondra (7 season vs.x score: 214.8)
- An all offense / no defense line, but it's barely better offensively than it's counterparts. At even strength, it's probably the weakest offensively, since both Bondra and Federko were such high scorers on the PP. Even as a scoring line, it would be lacking defensive play and toughness.
Well, I think New Jersey has the clear edge here. I'm not sure which of Pominville or Toronto I like more. Pominville's has more balance, so maybe that line.
New Jersey >> Pominville = Toronto