Every team seems to have one.
That one line that, on any given night, can dominate and steal a pair of points in the standings on their own.
With the playoffs looming in the next couple of months, head coaches will be expecting their premier lines to produce and, with a little luck, help them go off on a deep run into the playoffs.
Here is a look at my own best of the best when it comes to top trios in the NHL:
10. Alex Tanguay-Craig Conroy/Daymond Langkow-Jarome Iginla, Calgary
Slotting a line into the #10 spot is pretty much a coin flip. With Sidney Crosby on the limp, an argument can be made for the Malone-Malkin-Sykora unit in Pittsburgh. How about Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kovalev, Radulov-Arnott-Dumont or Whitney-Staal-Cole? And surely Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk have to make this list once Ryan Smyth and Joe Sakic return to the Avalanche ranks.
Points taken, but I'm going with whoever happens to be centering Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla. They're the ones driving the train in Cowtown, and that line may drive the Flames straight to a Northwest Division title.
9. Alexander Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Viktor Kozlov, Washington
In a year or two, this line will have moved a few pegs up the ladder, perhaps even to the top perch. Like a top line should be, this trio is a threat every time they are on the ice and may hoist the Capitals to the top of the Southeast at season's end.
8. Chris Kunitz-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry, Anaheim
With Dustin Penner now in Edmonton, Kunitz, Getzlaf and Perry will be asked, on occasion, to carry the mail as a line as the Ducks gun for their second consecutive Stanley Cup. Throw in the return of Teemu Selanne, who should see more than spot duty with Getzlaf, and the Ducks look up to the challenge.
7. Martin Straka-Scott Gomez-Jaromir Jagr, NY Rangers
Some will certainly argue with this pick, and a case could be made for exclusion from this list, especially since coach Tom Renney has split up Gomez and Jagr for the first time in a couple of months. But after a slow start in Manhattan, Gomez has found another gear. This isn't the bona-fide first line for the Blueshirts as Brendan Shanahan and Chris Drury can be rotated in. If they hit stride prior to the playoffs, look out.
6. Brenden Morrow-Mike Ribeiro-Antti Miettinen, Dallas
The Stars seem to be flying under the radar this year and probably only because they play in the same conference as the Red Wings. But make no mistake, Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow could help lead the Stars on an extended run this spring.
5. Scott Hartnell-Mike Richards-Steve Downie or Simon Gagne-Daniel Briere-Joffrey Lupul, Philadelphia
One year after bottoming out by placing dead last in the NHL, the Flyers re-tooled in a big way and are probably just one front-line player away from being a legitimate contender in the East. With Simon Gagne gets back full-time, the Flyers will have the luxury of coming at opposing teams with two top-tier lines. In the playoffs, that can be tough to overcome.
4. Vincent Lecavalier-Martin St. Louis-Vaclav Prospal, Tampa Bay
There isn't a whole lot to be happy about for John Tortorella in Tampa right now. Well, besides these three, who he has just put back together. Unfortunately, this line appears to be on borrowed time as Prospal will probably be catching a plane out of town by Feb. 26th.
3. Milan Michalek-Joe Thornton-Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose
For a team thank ranks T20 out of 30 in goals for prior to last night, this may seem like an odd pick but Joe Thornton alone carries this line to the number three spot. With 66 points to date, Thornton is the only Shark to crack the 40-point barrier on the season. The Sharks are headed for the playoffs thanks to Thornton, Evgeni Nabokov and not a lot else.
2. Tomas Holmstrom-Pavel Datsyuk-Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit
Considering Datsyuk was the highest-drafted player of the trio at 171st overall, it's no wonder Ken Holland is widely regarded as a genius in hockey circles. This line is nothing short of money.
1. Dany Heatley-Jason Spezza-Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa
If this line can stay hot, the Senators may finally be able to plan a long-awaited parade in Ottawa. In recent days, Alfredsson has enjoyed seven and five-point nights and Spezza a six-point outing. With Heatley back in the lineup and Cory Stillman brought in to solidify the second line, look out for the Senators. They may not settle for second-best this year.