
The Kid Line was an
NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
line for the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
in the 1930s. It included
Charlie Conacher
Charles William "the Big Bomber" Conacher Sr. (December 20, 1909 – December 30, 1967) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Americans in the National Hockey League ...
,
Harvey "Busher" Jackson and
Joe Primeau
Alfred Joseph Francis "Gentleman Joe" Primeau (January 29, 1906 – May 14, 1989), was a Canadian professional ice hockey player.
Playing career
Born in Lindsay, Ontario, and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Primeau moved to Toronto at an e ...
. When they first came together as a line in late 1929, Primeau was the oldest at 23 years old, while Jackson and Conacher were both 18. All three players are members of the
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame () is a museum and hall of fame located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League (NHL) records, memorabilia and National Hockey Le ...
. All but Primeau was born in Toronto but they all grew up in the city.
Maple Leafs coach
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe Military Cross, MC (; February 1, 1895 – November 18, 1980) was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs ...
, put the line together, and it helped the Maple Leafs win the
1932 Stanley Cup and lead the Leafs to four more Stanley Cup finals appearances over the next six years. This original line has been featured in a children's book called ''The Kid Line''.
The title was later revived as a nostalgic reference to the dynamic line combinations of the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
during the 1990s, specifically highlighting the gritty and effective trio of
Adam Graves
Adam Scott Graves (born April 12, 1968) is a Canadian former professional hockey player. He played 10 seasons with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sh ...
,
Joe Murphy, and
Martin Gelinas, who were known for their energy, tenacity, and contribution during a transitional period for the team. The moniker was again brought back in the
2007-08 NHL season to describe the youthful and promising forward line of
Sam Gagner
Sam William Gagner (born August 10, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vanco ...
,
Andrew Cogliano
Andrew Cogliano (born June 14, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, and Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). On December 31, ...
, and
Robert Nilsson. This group, often referred to as a modern incarnation of the earlier line, symbolized the Oilers’ hope for a new generation of skilled, fast-paced players who could help restore the team to its former competitive glory. Both versions of the line, separated by more than a decade, served as fan favorites and carried with them the legacy of hardworking, high-potential forward groups within the Oilers franchise.
More recently, the title has been used as a reference to other lines, like the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
-
Taylor Hall
Taylor Hall (born November 14, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first overall pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft selected by the Edmonton Oilers. ...
,
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (born April 12, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Nuge" by Oilers fans, Nugent-Hopkins was selected first ove ...
and
Jordan Eberle
Jordan Leslie Christopher Eberle (; born May 15, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and captain of the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2008 NHL e ...
, starting in
2011-12,
the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
-
Alex Galchenyuk,
Lars Eller
Lars Fosgaard Eller (born 8 May 1989) is a Danish professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "the Tiger", he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall, in th ...
and
Brendan Gallagher starting in
2013-14,
Kid Line shines as Canadiens get first win of season
/ref> the New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
- Brock Nelson
Brock Christian Nelson (born October 15, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nelson was drafted 30th overall in the first round of the 2010 NHL entry draft by the Ne ...
, Ryan Strome
Ryan Edward Gaston Strome (born July 11, 1993) is a Canadian ice hockey centre and alternate captain
In ice hockey, the captain is the player designated by a team as the only person authorized to speak with the game officials regarding rule in ...
and Anders Lee, and the New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
- Alexis Lafrenière, Kaapo Kakko
Kaapo Ville Olavi Kakko (; born 13 February 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kakko was selected second overall by the New York Rangers in the 2019 NHL entry draft, a ...
and Filip Chytil in 2021-2022.
See also
*List of ice hockey line nicknames
In ice hockey, three forwards – centre, right wing and left wing – operate as a unit called a line. The tradition of naming the lines extends back to the inaugural 1917–18 NHL season, when Didier Pitre, Jack Laviolette, and Newsy Lalonde o ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kid Line, The
History of the Edmonton Oilers
History of the Montreal Canadiens
History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Nicknamed groups of ice hockey players