What Make’s A Great Line?

What Makes a Great Line?

What makes a great line in the QMJHL or any level of hockey for that matter? 

Grit, finesse, speed, scoring touch, compete level, smarts, trust and chemistry. All the components of a great line, but it’s never that easy to assemble a line or is it? 

So the obvious question remains what makes up a great line?

Well, just ask Gardiner MacDougal and the Moncton Wildcats coaching staff and brain trust. It would appear they know the answer to that question because there’s no question when they put together the line of Preston Lounsbury, Riley Sampson and Grayden Robertson Palmer. 

The Wildcats were a team in transition on a number of fronts heading into this season with tons of uncertainty especially with so many new faces coming into the organization. 

The search for chemistry and building championship caliber trust amongst the group is never easy, but one thing is certain, the Cats have hit the jackpot with their line combinations, especially the line Preston Lounsbury, Riley Sampson and Grayden Robertson Palmer. 

It’s hard to fathom that some people would call that collection of players their “4th line” given their talent, versatility, grit, composure and smarts. Nonetheless, depth, talent and speed are no doubt the Wildcats greatest assets, and that line is the epitome of it. 

By Design or By Necessity?

When coaches are searching for chemistry there’s always a willingness to try anything, and throw combinations into a blender.

Gardiner MacDougal is the ultimate mix master when it comes to mixing up his lines, but yet somehow they always seem to come back together in the big moments. Is that by design or necessity? It’s both, and that’s why the Wildcats keep winning. 

The Wildcats have no doubt one of the deepest forward groups ever assembled in franchise history and let’s get one thing straight labelling their lines is somewhat difficult and perhaps unfair. 

There’s not enough room on the internet to describe the value Preston Lounsbury has brought and continues to bring this organization. As an overager, Lounsbury has delivered time and time again this season and is the ultimate honest two way player. His versatility and value is off the charts, but yet somehow through it all he has handled his role on the team like a true professional which tells you everything you need to know and more about his character and personality. Lounsbury is the type of player, person and leader that no matter what his TOI numbers are he’s all about team success. Here’s a player that won “Best Defensive Forward” in the circuit a few years back and his unwavering commitment and desire to win never changed given his ever changing role. 

A coaches blessing or worst enemy, a deep bench. It’s incredibly difficult to get every player their “cookies” so to speak when you have a deep group, and some nights will be tougher than others especially when there’s no flow or tons of speciality teams opportunities. MacDougal has done a very good job of that throughout his tenure with the Cats, but sheer magnitude of talent and depth his has at his disposal is a force to be reckoned with. 

MacDougall has created a plethora of great trios this season and each line definitely serves its purpose and have the ability to provide balance within each trio, but was that by design or necessity? Well the Cats have some players that couldn’t play the role the line of Lounsbury, Sampson and Robertson-Palmer does and that’s why they are no doubt the best energy line or whatever the hell you want to call them in the league. 

Again with the labels, but not too many teams in the league have a NHL draft pick in that part of their lineup. Grayden Robertson Palmer’s speed, vision and unrelenting drive is a perfect compliment to really any line and he like Lounsbury has found himself fulfilling multiple roles in his first foray in the QMJHL. The Detroit Red Wing draft pick has turned in a very solid campaign, and perhaps some critics would point to his offensive totals has being subpar, but you have to look at what he has done away from the puck and the role he has been given and how he has handled that role rather than basing all of your analysis on the stat line. The exact same thing can be said about Riley Sampson. 

You see what makes this line a dominant force is their chemistry and all the buzz words and descriptors you want to use, but at the end of the day these three players all play the same way and take enormous pride in that, and you know something as that line goes the Wildcats will go come playoff time. 

That trio will have a lot tough match ups, so the other three lines can go out there and free wheel and roll. 

This unlikely trio found chemistry almost instantly when put together and it didn’t matter what combination they had and trust me that line have seen a lot of new faces throughout the course of the season Sampson, Lounsbury or Robertson Palmer kept that lines identity intact. 

It’s clear things happen for a reason, and perhaps it’s good karma that these three players have found each other because you won’t see three other players work as effectively and efficiently as this group.

Versatility, hockey sense, chemistry, speed and a relentless desire to cause havoc, get to the net and never give up a on a puck battle in all three zones, that’s what makes that threesome so lethal.

Everyone wants to create nicknames for lines in the game of hockey. 

How about the Identity Line? Well that’s been taken. 

How about the Momentum Line? I’m sure that’s been taken as well, again with the labels, but what about the “Deception Line,” because this trio is deceptively one of the best in the league? Hell I don’t really give a rats ass what people call them, I know one thing if this line if given the right role in the playoffs they will be a difference maker late in the playoffs for the Moncton Wildcats. 

Without a doubt this trio is league’s best as a of right now, and are potentially the best and worst kept secret across the entire circuit. 

They aren’t going to over power opponents, they aren’t going to dazzle with skill or flashiness, that trio is just going to play the game the right way and support each other every time they step on the ice.

In all honesty it’s been a honour to watch that line play ever since their inception.

Key Situations Build Trust

From a coaching perspective, when you trust your bottom six to be out at the end of every period you know you have a very deep club, and trust in your players.

Lounsbury, Sampson and Robertson Palmer are all honest players, they aren’t going to cheat offensively, they aren’t going to take risks, and it’s their second effort and commitment to doing all the little things right that also have them playing big minutes in those critical times. Trust is the key and there’s no question Gardiner MacDougal trust’s that trio! 

The Glue

In any great line you need the glue guy, that guy that has an engine that won’t quit. The guy that would do whatever it takes to win.

The guy that wears his heart on his sleeve. The guy that doesn’t crave the limelight that just wants to make everyone around him better.

Every line needs a Riley Sampson. Every team needs a Riley Sampson.

Night in night out, you are going to get the best Riley Sampson has. Some nights throughout the season Sampson didn’t find his way onto the roster and his absence was definitely noticeable especially when it came to the Cats bottom six. 

Again that’s the true sign of character and a team first guy, even when things aren’t going your way individually, you are always there for your teammates and Riley Sampson is always in the fight and ready to do anything for a teammate and help the team win. 

What makes a great line? Well, all you have to do is watch this trio of Wildcats go over the boards and you will get your answer!