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

Ken Linsman.  One doesn't get know as the rat for no reason.

I agree, although Barnaby was known as the rat during his career as well...and he was also a 4th liner.

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

Exactly.   Campbell is a good case in point.  He's spent nearly the same number (if not more) of his career being a top 9 forward as he has the 4th.   Malhotra is a 3rd line center.   Smithson would be a likely 4th line player, but he's more than that in Nashville.
Burish has been a 4th line player (listed wing but plays more center) since he came into the league, and he's plugged into any role that the top 9 hasn't filled.   I consider him a CAREER 4th liner, but he's bad.   Matt Bradley is a wing.    Lapierre would be a good one except he's a 3rd center on most teams.   Asham is a wing more than a center.

David Steckel is a CAREER 4th line center but it's only been a few years
Scott Nichol is a CAREER 4th line center
Konopka is a Career 4th line center
Mike Rupp is a Career 4th line center and a good candidate imo, but he doesn't do faceoffs.

Jamal Mayers is a CAREER 4th line center.   He would be my pick because he's held the same role for 8 coaches 6 systems and 5 franchises over the course of more than a decade.   My better picks are retired.    He was the 4th center in STL for a long time and has been cost-effective in that role jumping from team to team.  He's not the best 4th line center today, but there's been no mistake about what he does for a living his entire career unlike most 4th line players.

Tough topic because there are a bunch of good young 4th line centers (by 4th line standards) that may move out of the role.   Others have only had a couple years in that role.   It's tough to pick, I only tried to mention CAREER 4TH line centers.    Nichol and Mayers are probably the best examples of true 4th line centers where their play at the center position is the primary reason they were offered a contract.   Guys like Konopka and Rupp get their paychecks for other stuff.    A career 4th line center (who actually takes faceoffs too) like Burish in Dallas, is too bad at hockey to really be considered good.    He has a nice contract now though.

IM a more casual fan, but i would say Shawn Thornton should be in the conversation.  The guy has two stanly cups with 2 different teams, and he has made his living on the fourth line, with his hardhitting play and fists as well as a few goals here and there

i would say Shawn Thornton should be in the conversation.

Thornton is a wing, and he's been a frequent healthy scratch in big games throughout his career.     Nichol misses games because of injury but has almost never been a healthy scratch, and Mayers hasn't been healthy scratched once he established a roster spot for himself 12 years ago.

It should be noted that JR prided himself as being the best 4th line center in the game while he was with SJ.   Of course it's been very rare if ever that there has been a debate about who the best 4th line player is.

This thread caused me to hurt my head for no good reason.   I like it.

Who did I miss that actually plays center for 5 or more years on the 4th line?  

hockeybob, why do they have to be center's?  I asked for the best 4th liners period whether they are centers or wings.  That is why I like Craig Adams,  From the time he was at Carolina to Pittsburgh now he has been solid, plays on the PK and can jump up to a higher line if a player gets hurt during the game without harming the team. 

Glad you like the thread though. 

Steckel-Brown-Armstrong are looking real solid as of late, they've been injured most of the year and are just now starting to click.

hockeybob, why do they have to be center's?

They don't I guess, but I can't think of a 4th line wing that hasn't been routinely bumped up a line or two to give a different look, they tend to specialize as a role player more than a 4th line player.    If they were to have a business card, I think the only ones with the titel "4th line...." would be centers, the other guys tend to have specialties.

A guy like Carcillo, Crombeen, Thornton, etc have had a ton of time during their careers where they were shuffled through different lines on a regular basis.   Carcillo has had more time away from the 4th line than on it.   I guess that's why I limited the criteria. 

The field is too open if Wings are included, all the good 4th liners I can think of on the wings tend not to stay on 4th lines.   They are PK1 types and 4th liners or something.   A PK1 or PK2 type even tends to take precedent imo., it's like a gm signs a pk specialist more than a 4th line player.   I guess it's just a matter of opinion, there really isn't a sound argument to declare the best 4th liners.  

Hmm perhaps you are overanalyzing it Bob.  Lol.  Just someone who has been pretty much on the 4th line their entire career ... general terms..

And who said Malhotra was a career 4th liner?

Hard to find career 4th liners... many have been up and down in the minors, or transferred up to other lines.  I only know for certain Shawn Thornton was full-time, fourth line with the Bruins.. pretty sure he filled that role with the Ducks as well.  Hell I don't even know if Gregory Campbell was a 4th line guy with the Panthers.  I know that is his full time role with the Bs though.

Hard to know each and every guy as you really need to see them play, which is why many would pick players they see a lot. 

It is harder than picking who is the best Offensive Lineman in football.not a lot of stats or solid measurements unless you actually see them play.

Ive read the 4th liners are sometimes called "The Lunchpail Crew". One guy who is currently listed as a 4th liner, but has played on all the other lines is Thomas Holmstrom. Nobody has done what he does better. Sets up office in front of opposing goalies and gets alot of tip-ins, deflections and PP goals. He's the guy you love if your a Red Wings fan, or really hate if your up against him. One of those guy's who doesnt get a lot of glory or stardom recognition, but extremely important roll player. Every team needs a Holmstrom-like player. #96 get's my vote.

Hmm perhaps you are overanalyzing it Bob.

There's no "perhaps" about it.    I am absolutely overanalyzing. 

I think Craig Adams is a very good answer. He's won 2 Cups on 2 different teams and has hardly ever been above the 4th line. It seems like forever ago, but there was a time where the Penguins were healthy and there was a question of who was going to be scratched every night. Adams was never in the discussion. Then with all the injuries to centers in Pittsburgh, he still doesn't get bumped up. He's always on the 4th line. Sometimes on the wing sometimes at center. At the time, I thought it was no big deal that the Penguins picked him up off waivers. Afterall, if he was so good, why was he on waviers? But it was a great pickup and I hope he stays in Pittsburgh for a while. He's tough, smart, and a damn good PKer. Not to mention, he doesn't eat up a lot of cap space. He doesn't score a whole lot, but you never have to worry about him hurting the team.

pete that pretty much sums up an ideal career 4th liner.