Which Forwards Have Become 1st Liners, which lost it?

[Jot]

Obviously its opinion based to judge a forward a 1st liner, but as the league has evolved, players have changed.
I was motivated to make this thread after seeing Tatars Stat's and Domi's Stats this season.

I dont watch Montreal Canadiens games. In my Mind Tatar was a 2nd liner and Domi was a 1st liner. But looking at stats, it seems like it switched.

Which forwards have proved themselves as a 1st line quality player?
Which forwards have played themselves out of the 1st line?

Click to read more...

 

[Phrazer]

JT Miller is one.

 

[Just Linda]

If you include D, Jake Gardiner comes to mind off the hop. He was argued a lot to be a top pairing D leading up to free agency... Nope

 

[Section337]

Technically, 0ne of Draisaitl or McDavid is no longer a 1st liner.

 

[Plural]

Laine has proved that he's a 1st line high quality winger instead of high end goal-scoring 2nd line winger

 

[AhoLottaLove]

Svechnikov is a first liner

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Montreal:

I think Tatar is still a second-liner at heart, but he is the only thing resembling a 1st liner scoring-wise this year. Maybe Gallagher.

Domi is all over the place. I think he has 1st line upside, but he usually looks like a tweener these days.

 

[Marshy]

Zach Hyman - first liner baby.

 

[Imnotagoodposter]

If you include D, Jake Gardiner comes to mind off the hop. He was argued a lot to be a top pairing D leading up to free agency... Nope

I don’t think Gardiner was ever genuinely touted as a top pairing d-man. Say what you will about leaf fans, but I never saw them claim that.
He’s always been seen as a mediocre top 4

 

[Ace of Hades]

JT Miller has played like a powerfoward first liner all year.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Alex Burrows was a career third liner at best. Then he became a first liner with the Sedins. But maybe he owes all of his success to them. Who knows.

This season? What about Strome on the Rangers?

 

[Krewe]

Tyler Johnson

 

[Man Bear Pig]

If you include D, Jake Gardiner comes to mind off the hop. He was argued a lot to be a top pairing D leading up to free agency... Nope

Back surgery didnt help.

 

[kilowatt]

Alex Iafallo plays on the first line, if that's what you mean. So does Dustin Brown though. Poor Kopitar.

 

[themelkman]

Timo Meier has not been himself most of this year. I have no doubt hell turn it around, but overall has not been first line quality this year

 

[7even]

If you include D, Jake Gardiner comes to mind off the hop. He was argued a lot to be a top pairing D leading up to free agency... Nope

Lol by who?

70% of the Leafs fanbase thought he was absolute trash and the other 30% thought he was a very good 2nd pairing defender. Some people thought he should be played with Rielly or have his usage shuffled around but I don't think anyone who wasn't trolling or fanboying ever called him a top pairing defenseman with a straight face.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

Bryan Rust has played at the level of a 1st liner this year

 

[M2Beezy]

J frickin T Miller

 

[Beville]

Connor Brown, Anthony Duclair...

But you put them on any other team and they go back to 2/3/4 easily.

 

[PG Canuck]

Zach Hyman - first liner baby.

Gretzky of empty nets

 

[Sasso09]

@JoeThorntonsRooster Konecny is a 3rd liner.

 

[Machinehead]

J frickin T Miller

Fun fact: it actually stands for Jimothy Timothy.

 

[PDX Flyer]

@JoeThorntonsRooster Konecny is a 3rd liner.

Obviously missing the inside joke on this one

 

[snag]

Technically, 0ne of Draisaitl or McDavid is no longer a 1st liner.

Isn't that the absolute shits, eh?

 

[CanadienShark]

Obviously missing the inside joke on this one

JTR probably referred to Konecny as a 3rd liner years ago.