Grind Line: Difference between revisions

{{Copy edit|date=March 2023}}[[Image:Kirk Maltby.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Kirk Maltby]], [[winger (ice hockey)|winger]] on the Grind Line]]

The '''Grind Line''' refers to a former [[forward (hockey)|forward]] line for the [[National Hockey League]]'s [[Detroit Red Wings]]. Red Wings head coach [[Scotty Bowman]] modeled it after the Crash Line of the [[1995 Stanley Cup Finals|1995 Stanley Cup]] champion [[New Jersey Devils]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hockey's All-time Classic Lines Grind Line (Red Wings) {{!}} Kris Draper, Darren McCarty, Kirk Maltby|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0901/nhl.classic.lines/content.16.html|publisher=SI.com|access-date=25 October 2011}}</ref>

Originally,The theoriginal Grind Line in Detroit consisted of three players, [[Kris Draper]], [[Joe Kocur]], and [[Kirk Maltby]], during the Red Wings' heyday in the late-1990s.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Crouse|first=Karen|title=A Delight for Detroit: The Return of the Grind Line|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/sports/hockey/30redwings.html?_r=1|work=New York Times|date=29 April 2011|access-date=25 October 2011}}</ref> Draper played the [[Centre (ice hockey)|centre]] position and was known for his speed and ability to win [[face-off]]s.<ref name="mlive.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/07/how_kris_draper_the_grind_line.html|title = How Kris Draper, the Grind Line were critical to Detroit Red Wings' Stanley Cup teams|date = 27 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120727566920988583|title = The Face-Off Artist|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|date = 4 April 2008|last1 = Gruley|first1 = Bryan}}</ref> Maltby played [[Winger (ice hockey)|left-wing]] and served as a [[Grinder (ice hockey)|checking forward]] and agitator in the Wings' [[left wing lock|left-wing lock]] defensive scheme.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20061101/maltby-enjoys-being-a-pest-to-opposing-players |title=Maltby enjoys being a pest to opposing players |website=www.theoaklandpress.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316114655/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20061101/maltby-enjoys-being-a-pest-to-opposing-players |archive-date=2017-03-16}} </ref><ref name="mlive.com" /> Kocur played [[Winger (ice hockey)|right wing]] and served as a physical presence and team [[Enforcer (ice hockey)|enforcer]].<ref name="mlive.com" />

During the [[1997 Stanley Cup Finals]], the line was effective against the [[Philadelphia Flyers|Philadelphia Flyers']] famous [[Legion of Doom (ice hockey)|"Legion of Doom"]] line that featured [[Eric Lindros]], [[John LeClair]], and [[Mikael Renberg]].<ref name="nytimes" /> After the 1998 season, [[Darren McCarty]] replaced [[Joe Kocur]] as the third linemate. The line was effective at "[[grinder (hockey)|grinding]]" and wearing againstdown the opposition's top-scoring line by providing an [[Enforcer (hockey)|enforcing]] presence,<ref name="nytimes" /> helping the team win four [[Stanley Cup]]s.<ref name="nytimes" />

After the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]] in 2005, McCarty's contract was bought out by the team in an effort to make them compliant with the newly implementednew salary cap. This broke up one of the most famous lines in Detroit Red Wings' history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Winging It In the Mailroom: Week One - Nicknames, Buyouts, and The Panic Button|url=http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2011/11/26/2585844/winging-it-in-the-mailroom-week-one-nicknames-buyouts-and-the-panic|website=Winging it in Motown|date=26 November 2011|access-date=2015-10-05}}</ref>

In the 2007–2008 season, the Detroit Red Wings re-signed Darren McCarty, and after a brief stint with the [[Grand Rapids Griffins]], he rejoined the Detroit Red Wings for the end of the regular season and the playoffs. In his first game back on March 29, 2008, versus the [[St. Louis Blues]], head coach [[Mike Babcock]] sent out his starting line of Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, and Kirk Maltby, reuniting the "Grind Line" once again. Since then, McCarty, Maltby, and Draper have retired.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report: Wings' Draper to announce retirement|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=569958&navid=mod-rr-headlines|publisher=NHL|access-date=25 October 2011}}</ref>