Who are the Best Career 4th liners in the league?

Why not give the guys who have made a career being a solid fourth liner.  Those guys who hang around year after year, and seem to contribute a just the right time. 

For myself, I have to say Craig Adams of the Pittsburgh Penguins has done a great job hanging around playing on the 4th line.  He did an admiral job with the Hurricanes and then has played some very meaningful minutes for the Penguins. 

Hm... tough one..

Don't know if he was always 4th line, but for some reason I always liked Rob Dimaio.

If you want current , than Dracy Hordichuk's been a good fighter wherever he's gone, and scores 5 goals a year or so.

I'll also throw Brett McLaen and Jody Shelley out there.

Well, alot of the fighters is who your gonna find lurking around on the fourth lines, marginal players that give thier team the physical spark... but here are a few that can contribute that ive seen hit the 4th line during their carrer... Raffi Torres,. Yes a prick plenty of times but will give you a complete game on the 4th line,.. Shawn Thornton has made contributions scoring and with fists,.. and ive always liked the above mentioned Shelley, I liked him with the Rangers, but now he seems just a shadow of his former self.
Diggin the Marsh Brady pick! I was always hot for her, before one of her dickhead brothers broke her nose lol. 

I agree with Craig Adams. He's a smart, defensive minded, tough guy. He doesn't fight or score much, but he can hit and kill penalties.

Aaron Asham. I hated him when he was on other teams, but that is why I like him now. He's an agitator and a good middle weight that can chip in 10 goals a year. I just wish he was on the ice for the Penguins more often.

Max Talbot. Can play center or wing, kills penalties, chips in 10-13 goals a year, is willing to drop the gloves even if he's going to get his ass kicked, blocks shots, and he's a solid playoff performer as well. Is he on the 4th line in Philly? I assumed so, but maybe they bumped him up since he was scoring a lot in the beginning of the season?

I always thought Shawn Thornton, Chris Neil, Dan Carcillo and Steve Downie did their jobs well if they are 4th liners. They could all smarten up a little bit and cut down on the stupid penalties, but they are tough guys who can chip in offensively.

I havent seen Downie on the 4th line since his days early in Philly... he definatly has the most offensive potential of all the guys mentioned.  Someone I forgot to mention and im not sure where he is now, was Blair Betts,.. guy never faught,.. killed penalties like no other and did everything asked of him while living on the 4th line.

Know he isnt too old yet, but Jay McClement of the Aves has been one of the most unknown players in the league. Back when he was playing with the Blues, he was one of the top penalty killers on the best PK team in the league for 3 straight years. And when he wasnt on the PK, he was playing the opponents top line night in and night out. One of the most unsung heroes in the game today I think.

tough question, i doubt many people know a lot about 4th lines on teams other than their own.

i'll throw konopka in there.  the guy is DYNAMITE in the faceoff circle, plays tough in front of the net, kills penalties, and is obviously one tough SOB.

Ian Laperriere, guy was all-heart (and fist).

I would also say Arron Asham, but I'm not sure if he's playing the Pens third line right now or their fourth.  Either way, he's been pretty much a 4th line player and he is a nice chippy player to have on a team, and he can make some beautiful passes now and then. 

 Someone I forgot to mention and im not sure where he is now, was Blair Betts,.. guy never faught,.. killed penalties like no other and did everything asked of him while living on the 4th line.

Betts was like the best fourth liner who never fought, he just went out there and played great defense (for a forward) until the scorers came back.  He was claimed off waivers by the Habs, but he failed a physical and is technically still a Flyer I think.

Going with a player the is not currently or has never been on the Penguins to take my "homerness" out of it I would then go with Brandon Prust of the Rangers.  Can fight.  And plays on the PK.  Averages over 10+ minutes a game.  

If you don't average atleast 8 minutes a game and bring nothing but fighting skills to the table you really shouldn't be in the NHL any more and are wasting a roster spot.  I can understand carrying the complete goon to throw out every once in a since other team carry them as a equalizer, but Definitely not as an every game day 4th liner.  

I'm not a fan of having my teams best offensive players playing on the PK.  If I can fill the 4th line with PKer/energy playershow happen to be good at fighting then that a huge plus for the team.  Let's the scoring lines rest up during the PK and have a better chance of scoring a goal even strength on on the PP. 

For the roles they play, I like Bruins fourth line duo.  Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell.  The other spot seems to revolve between a few players like Paille Pouliout Caron and whomever.

Those two and Bruins 4th line in general, sometimes will even start game as the first line ( first to take the opening faceoff).  The penalties they take are more strategic, if that makes sense, compared to the other players and lines.  If they fight, it is with another bruiser, and for a reason like changing the flow of the game.

Not sure about some from farther back.  Good thread though as these lines are almost always the strengths of the better teams in the league. 

This may or may not be a bit of "homerness" sorry KILLER :)  I thyink the Flyers were fortunate to have two of the best I have seen (not THE best but certainly up there.)  Lappy and Betts.  

Somebody mentioned Betts and the guy did just everything right, wasn't going to put pucks in the net but he killed penalties and was great at taking face offs.  Not much more I can say about Lappy, the guy was 100% heart and I'm sure even now if you put him on the ice he would lay down in front of a shot without hesitation.  

Taking "homerness" out of it though I really like Campbell, the guy just never stops. 

**"I would then go with Brandon Prust of the Rangers.  Can fight.  And plays on the PK.  Averages over 10+ minutes a game."**

Killer, I was trying to stay away from the Rangers so I wouldnt be a homer, but Prust is actually a 3rd line player, he started on the 4th line when we aquired him from Calgary, but i didnt mention him because he plays on the 3rd line so much and has even made an apperance on the 2nd line a few games... Easily one of my favorite players no matter what team he's on.

Joe Kocur.

Done.

I would also say Arron Asham, but I'm not sure if he's playing the Pens third line right now or their fourth.

He's out indefinitely with a concussion, but when he's playing he's on the 4th line.

Sort of a tough question here because one team's 4th liner could be another team's 2nd or 3rd.


Today I would say that Gregory Campbell is the best 4th liner in the league. He's a force out there, drops the mitts at the right times, excellent on the PK, good on draws and is a plus player.  Very understated player that was a huge pickup on the side of the Horton deal.  Manny Malhotra for the Canucks is a great player too, would love him on my team any day. Not sure whether he's a real 4th liner or 3rd but the depth chart for the Canucks here on cbs has him as the 4th line RW.


 

The two guys I would nominate have already been thrown out there, Asham and Craig Adams.


Another name I would put into the mix would be Mike Rupp.  He moves up and down in the line-up, but is typically towards the bottom two lines.  Stand up for his team, plays strong defensively and all around a good guy.


Matt Bradley, IMO, deserves a mention as well.     

Definitely going to go with Shawn Thornton. i've seen him completely change the pace of a game on multiple occasions with either a fight or sometimes a goal. you will never see him play a shift where he's not out there banging bodies. he's a great player and the Bruins are extremely luck to have a player like him.