Long-Benn-Leavold - Best Rockets Line Ever?

It's time for the great debate. Is the line of Colin Long, Jamie Benn and Brady Leavold the best line the Rockets have ever had in Kelowna? Some say the trio rivals only that of the Rockets number one line of Jesse Schultz, Tyler Mosienko and Kiel McLeod from the 2002-2003 season. That line was a key in leading the Rockets to a WHL title that season.

So let's do it. Let's compare the two lines statistically.

Long, Benn and Leavold have combined for 177 points this season. The three man unit has scored 70 goals, collected 107 assists for 177 points in just 140 games combined. The trio of Schultz, McLeod and Mosienko had 122 goals, 155 assists for 277 points in 206 games in 2002-2003. With 22 games left in the regular season, Long is on pace for a 107 point season. Benn is on pace for a 83 point season while Leavold is projected to finish the year with 70 points. Add the three projected point totals together and you get 260 points, just 17 points fewer than the Rockets top line in 2002-2003. What's interesting is if Long, Benn and Leavold play in the Rockets final 22 games this season, the three-some will have played a combined 206 games, the same number that Schultz, McLeod and Mosienko played on their way to a regular season title. What are the chances? In this case, good!

Some random observations I have about the Long-Benn-Leavold line:

• The three players have combined to score 39 percent of the team's goals this season.
• After speaking to the GM of the LA Kings, why wouldn't someone take a chance on drafting Colin Long? Selecting an undrafted 18 year-old is nothing new. Just look at Chilliwack's Mark Santorelli as an example. Santorelli was not drafted as a 17 year-old - the same goes for Long. Santorelli was never identified by NHL Central Scouting on any of the three lists of the top eligible players for last seasons draft - Long hasn't been mentioned once this season. Yet Mark Santorelli was drafted as a 18 year-old by the Nashville Predators in the 4th round of this summer draft. Will Colin Long follow a similar path? I'm thinking so.
• Did Brady Leavold suffer from an identity crisis early on in his WHL career? Why then did Leavold play such a gritty game in his first three seasons with the Swift Current Broncos? Was he asked to play that way, in essence losing sight of the skilled player he really is? Don't get me wrong, Leavold must not lose the gritty side of his game - he's extremely effective when he plays that way - but the overage forward has proven without a shadow of a doubt he is more than just a lunch bucket player who provides sandpaper on the Rockets top unit.
• How happy are the Dallas Stars with Jamie Benn's performance this season. To make the jump to major junior, lead the league in rookie scoring, and put up 27 goals - he's on pace to score 40 - has to put a smile on an NHL team that took him in the 5th round.
• It's been bothering me for a little while now. Shouldn't this line have a name? How about the network line? I'll explain. Jamie Benn, Brady Leavold and Colin Long. Get it? BBC. Much like the British Broadcasting Corporation, the 'network line' would fit. To prove my point, Benn is from Victoria British Columbia, Leavold is from Port Coquitlam British Columbia and Long is from California. Again BBC. Once again the 'network line' appears to fit. Help me out here if you have a better suggestion?

Happy 19th birthday to Rockets goaltender Torrie Jung