Sharks a fine line: the Sharks' success this season is largely due to the stellar play of their unheralded third line: Mike Ricci, Niklas Sundstrom, and Scott Thornton

Hockey Digest, April, 2002 by Karl Samuelson

THINK OF THE BEST LINE IN hockey and names such as Jeremy Roenick, Sergei Fedorov, Mats Sundin, and Joe Thornton come to mind. True, those players pivot dominant lines for their respective teams, but their lines aren't the answer were looking for.

Let's make it easier. Think of the best line on the San Jose Sharks and who comes to mind? Owen Nolan? Teemu Selanne? Vincent Damphousse? Marco Sturm?

Think again.

While most people are pre-occupied with the league's big guns, the Sharks third-line trio of Mike Ricci, Niklas Sundstrom, and Scott Thornton has emerged without any fanfare as the most consistent line in the NHL.

"You're right, people never talk about that line," says Columbus Blue Jackets coach Dave King. "It's a good line and I've never even thought about them. When you stop to consider, you see that it has a lot of the elements that make up a good line. You've got game sense and work ethic from Mike Ricci. Great skill and intelligence with Niklas Sundstrom. And you've got speed, intelligence, and physical presence with Scott Thornton. That's a very important point. When you start looking at that line it makes sense that they're so good. But they're very overlooked."

Being overlooked is nothing new for Ricci, Sundstrom, and Thornton. Each was a high draft choice that was cast off by their original NHL teams and eventually landed in San Jose. Now all three are playing the best of their respective careers.

"That line doesn't get enough credit," says former San Jose assistant coach Drew Remenda, now the color commentator on Sharks telecasts. "It's one of the most underrated lines in hockey."

Says Sharks winger Adam Graves, "They've been our best line and possibly the best line in the league. They complement each other very well.

"Niklas is a heads-up hockey player who makes smart plays and is a great passer. He is excellent in all three zones. Mike is excellent on draws. He carries the puck extremely well through the neutral zone. And Scott is excellent around the net and is as tough as they come. They had a great year last season and they're leading the way for us now."

The old adage that "strong defense creates good offense" fits the Ricci line like a glove.

"They usually play against the other team's top line," says Sharks assistant coach Lorne Molleken. "Their first job is to make sure they limit the opposition's opportunities. When you play strong defense the puck seems to come to you. Their line plays very strong defensively and when they get the puck they've got the ability to create offense. They've done a great job."

Thornton was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round (third overall) in 1989. After brief stops in Edmonton, Montreal, and Dallas, the 30-year-old late-bloomer was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Sharks and enjoyed a career-year last season, notching 19 goals in the regular season and three goals in his first four playoff games with San Jose.

"I'm so glad to see Scott Thornton finally getting his chance to play and show people what he can do," says King. "I was an assistant coach in Montreal and we didn't use him very much. We didn't give him a chance to really play. When he made a mistake, it would really cost him ice time. Now he has a chance to play, and if makes a mistake they play right through it. He is playing real well."

The 6'3", 216-pound Thornton has transformed himself from a part-time role player into a fulltime power forward.

"You certainly know when Scott is on the ice because he is somebody to be reckoned with," Remenda says. "He can hurt you with a bodycheck or he can hurt you by scoring. He's got great speed for a big man and is strong as an ox. Scott has a huge, heavy shot, and his release is so quick. The difference in our team when Scott is in the lineup vs. when Scott is not in the lineup is amazing. He is one of those guys on the ice that makes this team a little braver."

Sundstrom was selected by the New York Rangers in the first round (eighth overall) in 1993. The knock against him in New York was that he couldn't finish well, but the talented Swede has great ice awareness and reads the play very well, critical assets in his emergence as a force in San Jose.

"He's got good skills and is very smart," says St. Louis Blues coach Joel Quenneville. "Niklas is good around the puck and is very smart positionally. He is simply a very good player."

Sundstrom's play was disappointing during his first season in San Jose (1999-2000) but the 26-year-old winger now combines a strong work ethic to match his many skills. He leads the Sharks in takeaways this season.

"Sundstrom was just awful the first year he played for the Sharks," Remenda says. "For a while it looked like maybe the Sharks made a mistake [in trading four players to Tampa Bay to acquire Sundstrom] but he got himself in better condition. Conditioning is a priority when you come to the West because the travel can really get to you. Niklas has become really durable and better at grinding and cycling the puck along the boards. He is really good at creating opportunities from a and knows when he should back up and help the defense. If a [Sharks] defenseman pinches down, Niklas will go back to protect him and pick up that defensive position. He is a really smart player, whose vision on the ice is exceptional."