Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers all-time top forward lines

By Jim Madden

New York Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka in action against the Tampa Bay Lighting. New York Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Lighting 4-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on December 22, 2005. (Photo by Dave Saffran/NHLImages)
New York Rangers Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka in action against the Tampa Bay Lighting. New York Rangers defeat the Tampa Bay Lighting 4-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on December 22, 2005. (Photo by Dave Saffran/NHLImages) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER, 1981: Ron Duguay #10, Barry Beck #3, Mark Pavelich #40 and head coach Herb Brooks pose for a portrait before an NHL game circa December, 1981 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER, 1981: Ron Duguay #10, Barry Beck #3, Mark Pavelich #40 and head coach Herb Brooks pose for a portrait before an NHL game circa December, 1981 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

The catchy names

A list of memorable forward lines would not be complete without mentioning a few of the most entertaining combinations put together by Rangers coaches of recent memory.

The Battery line 

Between the years of 2010-2012, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Ryan Callahan formed the “Battery Line” which represented the players initials D-AA-C which also are for names of battery sizes.  The trio was a solid two-way line and put up 161 goals over that span.

The HBO line

Between the years 2005-2007 the Rangers had some colorful characters who held down the fourth line.  Centered by Blair Betts, wingers Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr formed the “H-B-O” line that didn’t set many scoring records or score goals at all but they did lead the Rangers in penalty minutes during those years.

The Smurf line

Before the 1982-83 season the Rangers brought in Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 USA Olympic team of Miracle on Ice fame.  With Brooks came some of the players from the gold medal team along with Brooks’ up-tempo weaving style.  Brooks’ team that season were known around the league as “the smurfs” after the small and diminutive animated cartoon characters and children’s stuffed animals that lined toy stores around the country.

Former Olympians Mark Pavelich and Robbie McClanahan were paired with Anders Hedberg to form what became the “Smurf line”.  The trio played a high pressure and energetic pace with pesky forechecking that drove opponents crazy.  Their size didn’t reflect the offensive production they created on ice however.  Pavelich led the way with 37 goals while Hedberg (25) and McClanahan (22) all finished among the team’s scoring leaders.  Eddie Johnstone made an occasional guest appearance on the Smurf line during the playoffs as the Rangers upset the heavily favored Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 in the opening round.

That’s it for the list of lines whose monikers for the most part provided more notoriety than results.  I’m sure that there are some we missed and feel free to add your favorites.

Let’s now look at the lines that couldn’t crack the top ten, but made honorable mention

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