Managing your lines effectively is something that's often overlooked by some of the more casual NHL gamers out there, but it can be the difference between a win and a loss against skilled opposition. It also helps to go through your team strategy options before you dive into some of the more advanced tactics in this game, but that’s a topic for another day. For now, here are some entry-level ways you can improve your line management in NHL 16.

First Line

It goes without saying that you will probably want your best and most skilled players on this line, including a sniper that can take advantage of your creative dominance. The default and arguably most efficient line strategy here is Overload, which relies on a player's skill to overpower the defense. If you want a different look, you can set up with a Behind the Net approach, and use your speed and offensive awareness to create scoring chances by drawing the defensemen out of position.

As you delve further into line strategies, try modifying the first slider so you're carrying the puck as much as possible. On a personal level, I often favor a cycled offensive approach that keys in on the puck control and passing abilities of my players. The most important defensive slider relates to holding the puck or pinching. I tend to keep this slider somewhere near the middle, but if you've got some quick defensemen that can recover after a potential error, you can experiment by raising it a little more.

Second Line

In the example below, I have gone with a couple of two-way forwards and a sniper for my second line because I want to utilize the Overload strategy. Alternatively, you could swap Higgins for Hansen and switch to a Crash the Net formula, taking advantage of the line's ability to force deflections and rebounds in the slot.

Again, forget about dumping the puck as it’s simply not effective unless it’s a key part of your strategy. I would also recommend an even mixture of shooting and cycling, with a slight emphasis on shooting, just to compensate for the difference in skill between the first and second lines.


Third Line

An interesting way to build your third line is to experiment with speed by adopting a Behind the Net tactic where you focus on dumping the puck. Otherwise, you will probably want to look at putting some grinders on this line, much like I did in the example above. If you do go with grinders, put their strength to use with a Crash the Net style. You can also continue to go with Overload if your players’ puck skill and sense attributes are still hovering around the 85 mark at this point.

I would also look to shoot more often with your defensemen, especially if you intend to Crash the Net. This is also the one line where I would advise you to hold the line as much as you can, rather than pinching to keep the puck in the zone. As a final point, unless you deploy the aforementioned Behind the Net and dump routine, continue to carry the puck into the zone.

Fourth Line

Your fourth line will typically be built around grinders, so it’s definitely worth going to the net and making your strength count. I like to dump the puck a little more on the fourth line and rely on my skaters to intimidate the defense. I would not go overboard when cycling the puck unless you're confident in your skaters' offensive abilities.


Power-Play Units, Penalty-Kill Units And More

It goes without saying that you will want creative players on the power play along with some defensive-minded penalty killers, but there are a few additional options on the team strategies page that can assist further.

When setting the power-play strategy, I always stick to Overload. Penalty killing is a little different, and it's good to go with the Passive Box option, which reduces the number of opposition shots. Large Box is another popular choice, commanding your players to attack the puck carrier.

For 4-on-4 and 3-on-3, I like to stick with a balanced two-way setup as much as possible, and that goes for defense as well as offense. For the extra attacker, try sticking a playmaker or sniper in that role, depending on your style of play.

Additional Line Strategy Options

Finding the sweet spot between "efficiency" and "energy" is entirely dependent on the strength of your team as a whole, but it’s best to raise this slider just a little bit on each line. I find that hovering it around the middle on the first line, and continuing to raise it by one notch for the second, third and fourth lines is the ideal strategy. Otherwise, favor the "efficiency" option on your best lines and push it towards "energy" for your weaker ones.

In terms of blocking the puck, this is the rare example in which I always max out the slider. Blocking is almost always a benefit in NHL 16, especially since injuries as a result of a blocked shot are very rare. In my experience, I have found that you will rarely give up screened goals as a direct result of doing this.

Remember, line strategies are impacted by your team strategies as well, which are just as important to get right. Check out Jayson Young’s NHL 15 piece for a quick look at some great team strategies that are still relevant in this year’s game.


There are all sorts of ways to implement effective line management. What's your ideal setup in NHL 16?