MAGICAL DUOS

NHL pairings light up scoreboard

A forward line consists of three players, but often it’s two guys doing most of the work. In some cases, it’s enough for the whole team to feast on. From Hull and Oates to Gretzky and Kurri, here are some of the NHL’s best dynamic duos:

Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders

Bossy said from the moment he arrived on Long Island in 1977, “it started to click right away” with Trottier. In their first season together, Bossy scored a then-rookie record 53 goals and won the Calder Trophy. The following year, Trottier won the Art Ross Trophy. They went on to win four Stanley Cups together.

Brett Hull and Adam Oates, St. Louis Blues

They only played together for two and a half seasons, but Hull and Oates certainly made the most of their time. With Oates feeding him passes, Hull not only led the league in goals in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92, but also scored 50 goals in 50 games in back-toback years.

Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers

Sometimes referred to as The Great Sidekick, it’s easy to overlook Kurri’s contributions. After all, Gretzky could make anyone look good. But as a duo, they twice finished one-two in scoring, combining for 343 points in 1984-85 and 291 points in 1986-87.

Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins

It’s rare — and a bit unfair — that two of the league’s best players would be on the same team. In Jagr’s rookie season of 1990-91, the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup and then repeated the next year. During a 10-year stretch, the duo combined for nine Art Ross Trophies.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Most of the players on this list achieved greatness with other linemates, but the Sedins have been inseparable since they stepped into the NHL. They each have led the NHL in scoring and have combined for 1,976 points in 16 seasons.