NHL: The Best NHL Team That Money Can Buy
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Best NHL Team Money Can Buy: First Line
For my first line, I wanted it to be an excellent scoring line. I honestly didn’t focus much on defensive value on this line since this line of NHL stars would ideally be seeing a ton of offensive zone starts. Any team that wants to win the Stanley Cup must have the ability to score. This line would dominate the NHL.
First Line Left Wing: Alex Ovechkin
This is the one pick where I completely deviated from my strategy. Ovechkin had the 44th best dCI (53.42) of all left wings. However, as I said, I wanted an elite scoring line for my first line. How could I possibly have an elite scoring line if it didn’t include the best goal scorer in the NHL? Yes, his $9.538 million required me to be fancy and cheap later on. Luckily, I was able to do so.
Honorary Mentions: Daniel Sedin, Jamie Benn, Filip Forsberg. I was REALLY tempted by Forsberg, but dang it I needed Ovechkin! I was also really tempted to include Dallas’s handsome duo of Benn and Seguin.
First Line Center: Joe Thornton
Oh if I could count how many hours I have dreamed to see Thornton alongside Ovechkin. Sadly, that’s not possible in the NHL. Luckily, this isn’t reality, so it’s entirely plausible! Thornton had the second highest dCI (238.98) among all centers in the NHL. Not only that, his passes are poetry in motion. Imagine what Thornton could do with the NHL’s best goal scorer. In Lou We Trust is doing amazing work with passing data (you can read up on it here), but this just shows you how incredible Thornton is at passing. His passes lead to scoring chances. Considering who’s on his left, that’s precisely what I want.
"To recap some of the metrics: CC% and CC/60 are for Corsi Contribution (individual shot attempts, primary passes leading to shot attempts, and secondary passes leading to shot attempts) percentage and per sixty minutes. These tell you how much offense goes through that player while on the ice and also how often they contribute. Composite SAG and SG represent the total number of shot attempts and shots a player generated from both primary and secondary passes per sixty minutes. SAG/60 is solely for the player’s primary passing contributions. Entry Assists represent the number of controlled entries a player assisted on. This is determined by the number of passes in transition (prior to entering the offensive zone) we recorded for each player. SC Contribution % and SCC/60 are the exact same thing as CC% and CC/60, but represent only the scoring chances a player was involved in. – In Lou We Trust"
CREDIT: In Lou We Trust
Honorary Mentions: Tyler Seguin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Tavares, Henrik Sedin, Joe Pavelski. I was probably the most tempted by Seguin and Pavelski. However, Thornton and Ovechkin has happened in my dreams way too many times for me to not make it happen.
First Line Right Wing: Jakub Voracek
I’m a Caps fan, so I absolutely hate saying this. This might be the first time I’ve openly admitted this: Voracek… is probably the most productive passer in hockey. There, I said it. Voracek had a breakout season in 2014-2015 with 81 points (41 at even strength). Then, there’s his passing. Once again, I turn to In Lou We Trust.
CREDIT: In Lou We Trust
Voracek is more than just boxcar stats guy. The Flyers are a completely different team when he’s on the ice. He’s also good for at least 20 goals a year. With Thornton as his center, 25 to 30 is reasonable. This line is all about optimizing the league’s best goal scorer. The best way to do so? Surround him with two of the league’s best passers.
Honorary Mentions: Pavelski, Ryan Strome, Tyler Johnson. I was sorely tempted by Strome, but Voracek’s passing was way too valuable.
I’m spending a lot on this line, but it’s worth it. This line is going to score at will with offensive zone starts. You have the arguably the best passer in the league (Voracek), the undisputed best goal scorer in the league (Ovi) and arguably the second best passing center in the league (Thornton). Works for me!
Next: Second Line