NHL.com correspondent Stan Fischler offers a collection of “top forward lines” from the NHL’s Original Six–as well as a sextet of modern-era teams–and Fischler’s suggestion for the Red Wings’ Original Six era is a simple one:
Detroit Red Wings: Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Sid Abel
Unlike the Ponies, “The Production Line” was physically intimidating. That style meshed with their overall talent and turned the Red Wings into Stanley Cup champions in 1950 and 1952.
The line came into its own in 1949-50, Lindsay’s 78 points leading the NHL ahead of Abel (69) and Howe (68). However, a severe head injury sustained during Game 1 of the 1950 Semifinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs nearly ended Howe’s career. Thanks to the offense provided by Abel and Lindsay, Detroit won the Cup.
A year later, Howe began dominating NHL scoring. He had 86 points in 70 games in 1950-51, 20 ahead of runner-up Maurice Richard, Abel and Lindsay also among the top 10. Their mastery reached its peak the following season. The Red Wings finished first by 22 points and won the Cup in an eight-game sweep of first Toronto and then Montreal.
“This was my greatest team,” said general manager Jack Adams, “and the Production Line was the reason for that.”
Continued; if Jack Adams wasn’t such an inveterate (i.e. habitual) tinkerer, the Wings probably would have won more than the four Cups from 1950-55. Ol’ Jack couldn’t leave well enough alone.
That being said, the Production Line’s original iteration was a masterpiece of chemistry, scoring touch, work ethic and plain old Detroit grit, and I can’t begrudge Adams the credit for crafting the Red Wings’ most famous forward line.
