Good day to all here in fantasy hockey land. This week I have compiled a list of the top lines for each team over the last ten games at even strength. I am going to look at a couple of hot lines in the Western Conference and a couple of cold players in the Eastern Conference. I will also list a couple of lines that offer great secondary scoring. They might not be complete studs, but they are getting the job done.

Hot in the west

Edmonton Oilers

Leon Draisaitl – Zack Kassian – Connor McDavid

The trio in Edmonton has been on fire, or as my favourite limo driver would say, “smokin hot.”  This line has combined for a total of 19 points at even strength over the last ten nine games as Zack Kassian sat out with a minor back injury Sunday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Leon Draisaitl

The 2014 third overall pick Leon Draisaitl has found great chemistry with Connor McDavid over the last few years. This season Draisaitl currently trails McDavid by one point on the season as they battle it out for the Art Ross Trophy. At even strength Draisaitl has 15 goals and 17 assists. He is shooting the puck three times per game and is averaging a goal on 19.6 percent of his shots. That number is a little higher than his career average of 18 percent but the way this trio is playing I wouldn’t be surprised if it stays there all season long. Hopefully you were the lucky one in your league to draft Draisaitl. If not then better luck next year as this player may just be on the winning team’s roster.

Zack Kassian

The fourth line grinder is turning into quite the power forward. Previously only useful in banger leagues, the newly first line winger is finding a scoring touch to go along with all that banging. On the season Kassian is up to nine goals and 10 assists. His 56-point pace nearly doubles his career best of 29 points. He’s also hitting more in a first line role already up to 87 hits on the season which puts him sixth in the league. If he gets close to his pace in hits (251) and points (56) he will be a fine secondary fantasy asset and if he sticks to this line I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts up 60 points on the season. When Kassian is back in the lineup, make sure to check frozen tools line combos for their current deployment.

Connor McDavid

The most talented offensive player currently playing in the NHL, Connor McDavid is doing Connor McDavid things. Up to 11 goals and 18 assists at even strength McDavid is clearly the go to guy on offense for the Edmonton Oilers. He is currently on pace for an amazing 144 points this year and if anyone can do it, it would have to be McDavid. His chances for is a little on the low side at just 47.75 percent but I can’t see that being too much of a problem if he continues to score like he has. All in all, McDavid is a stud and if you happened to use a number one pick on him this year be happy and smile all the way to your finals.

Winnipeg Jets

Kyle Connor – Patrik Laine – Mark Scheifele

After often shuffling the lines to start the season Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice has found something with this scoring line. They have put up a combined 17 points at even strength over the last ten games.

Kyle Connor

After missing this year’s preseason holding out for a new contract, Kyle Connor got off to a bit of a slow start. Now starting to catch fire with his line mates Connor is up to eight goals and nine assists at even strength. Connor is also over 20 minutes a night which means more chances to put up points. He is currently on pace for 64 points but his shooting percentage is about three points lower than his career average so I can see that number rising and so will his points totals. If Connor sticks with this line, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get over 70 points for the first time in his career.

Patrik Laine

Another off-season holdout. Patrik Laine signed late into the preseason but unlike his linemate has been solid since the start of the season. The sniper for the Jets has turned into an unselfish player and has started to share the love. On the season Laine is up to five even strength goals to go with 13 assists. Laine has been a bit snake bitten on his shot percentage which is at a lousy 8.9 percent. One of his past criticisms was that he was a me first player that was lazy on the defensive side of the puck. He has turned that around this year and has started playing better in his own end. This has resulted in him being a plus player after being a minus-24 last season. Laine has always been a talented player and if he continues to earn more ice time, he will reap the benefits and if you are an owner of Laine, you will too.

Mark Scheifele

Mark Scheifele is one of the most talented players in the league today. He also happens to be one of the smartest players around. He lives and breathes hockey and it certainly has helped him on the offensive side of things. He currently has seven even strength goals to go with 13 assists. He is currently on pace for 73 points this season but over the last three years he has been a point per game player so I think that number should rise a little and put him closer to 80 points. He is shooting at a bit lower percentage this season so if he can get that up a little, he will get there. 

Eastern Cold Front

Columbus Blue Jackets

Cam Atkinson 

After a career best 41 goals in the 2018-19 season, Cam Atkinson is off to a terrible start this season. It seems like losing Artemi Panarin has really done a number on him. On the season Atkinson has one goal at even strength and six assists. He is scoring on a terrible five percent of his shots, which is six points lower than his career average. Atkinson is also currently on pace for just 44 points which now makes him basically fantasy irrelevant. If Atkinson doesn’t get better linemates he is basically droppable in all formats. 

Philadelphia Flyers

James van Riemsdyk

The 11-year veteran James van Riemsdyk is off to his worst start of his career. He has scored just four goals at even strength to go with six assists and is currently on pace for a measly 33 points. His shooting percentage is at an all-time low at just 7.1 percent which is about seven points lower than his career average. He has always been a great net presence as he has great hand eye coordination and if he isn’t being deployed that way than he is practically useless. If you are for some reason still holding onto him now is the time to drop until he is being deployed with better linemates.

Lines to take a gamble on

If you are looking for some short-term gain. These lines below may just give you what you need to get ahead.

Blake Coleman – Nikita Gusev – Travis Zajac

Andreas Athanasiou – Robby Fabbri – Valtteri Filppula

Joel Eriksson Ek – Jordan Greenway – Luke Kunin

Thanks for reading this week’s ‘Lining Up’. As always you can find me on twitter @KINGTUNA4