Question: Although I enjoy the game of ice hockey, I still haven't fully understood the tactics teams have. Having said that, what is the tactics of putting 2 heavy enforcers in Fulton Reed and Dean Portman on the same line? Wouldn't it be better if they were on separate lines throughout the games, having at least one heavy hitting enforcer on the ice longer than 2 on the same line that I've noticed in the movies?
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Answer: There may be a number of reasons, but the most likely is that, if players work really well together, it makes sense to have them on the same line, regardless if they are both enforcers or not. To give an example, the 1990s Detroit Red Wings had the "Grind Line", which consisted of three forwards who were all known for their aggressive, physical style. The two wingers in particular were team enforcers. They meshed so well as a unit it wouldn't have been as effective to split them onto different lines, just to provide an enforcer to each. The combination of all three on one line worked very well, and other teams copied the format, though of course it was not unique to this team (see, for example, the Philadelphia Flyers' Legion of Doom).