ZDH Line Tops in the NHL?

by Gorillacrouch

Conventional wisdom amongst NHL fans would be that Ottawa's top line of Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley is the most dominant line in hockey.  With Red Wings coach Mike Babcock reuniting Henrik Zetterberg with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom the ZDH line is about to give the Sens forwards a run for their money.

Detroit's top line has played together for six games.  Over that time they've combined to score 10 goals and tally 14 helpers.  If they stay together on the top line for the remainder of the season and maintain that scoring pace they could finish the season with 133 goals and 186 assists.  Right now Ottawa's top line is on pace to score 133 goals and notch 226 assists.  So Detroit's trio of forwards is pretty close when it comes to point production.  Goals are the key stat and the lines are neck and neck at this point.

The reason why I think there's a good chance the ZDH line could surpass the line of Spezza, Alfredsson and Heatley is the way Detroit's top line played when they were together on a line last season.  From December 18 to February 11 the line averaged 1.48 goals and 2.08 assists per game.  Over that nearly two month stretch Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Holmstrom comprised the most dangerous line in the NHL as no line scored as many points as they did over that stretch.

The line is actually producing at a higher production clip this season, although the data is admittedly very limited as it only covers six games so far this season.  With that being said, this line could very well challenge Ottawa's top line for the title of best line in hockey if Mike Babcock keeps the three forwards together.

CityhockeyfeverVarsity Captain

773 days ago

Score 1

I wouldn't call the ZDH line tops in the NHL just yet. But it has been very impressive so far. It bodes as a good argument in countering the top line for Ottawa, but there is one problem for both teams... stop the top line on both and you have a pretty good chance of defeating them on a given night. Detroit is involved in a much more competitive conference than Ottawa with a number of teams real close together in potency and as playoff contenders this season. So the Red Wings are going to need Henrik Zetterberg with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom to produce every single night.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

773 days ago

Score 0

Detroit has lost a lot of its strength in depth in recent seasons, Shanahan, Yzerman and Lang just for starters. But we have some impressive youngsters, the likes of Filpulla, Franzen and Hudler have impressed me. And we still have the wily foxes like Draper and Maltby. And our D is probably only #2 to Anaheim once they get Giguere back. All in all, Detroit beats Ottawa as a whole squad. On the top line though, the three compliment each other really well. Holmstrom is the best "pest" in the NHL. Datsyuk is a top playmaker, and Zetterberg seems to have developed a nack for scoring goals. If the net result sees Zetterberg and Datsyuk with 100 points each, then I think I'll be very happy indeed.

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