Jonathan Cheechoo is not going to score 50 goals. There, I said it.

Reports out of Ottawa have Cheechoo, a former Rocket Richard Trophy winner, playing alongside No. 1 center Jason Spezza, a deft playmaker with 152 assists since 2006-07. When Cheechoo scored 56 goals in 2005-06, he had all-world passer Joe Thornton setting him up.

Thornton ... Spezza ... the drop-off isn't too great. But sorry, I don't see any more than 20 goals for Cheechoo. Twist my arm and I may go to 23.

Less than a week into training camp, there's already plenty of line talk for fantasy pundits to digest. How much stock to put into left wing-center-right wing combinations is up to personal taste. Sometimes, who a player skates with can mean as much as the player's own natural scoring ability. But these things are not set in stone. Changing linemates can make a players stock rise or fall, or do nothing at all.

Here is the earliest of line talk to consider as Yahoo! fantasy drafting is in full swing.

Anaheim -- Coach Randy Carlyle has no intention of breaking up the top unit of Bobby Ryan-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry. But when you see them on the ice will be a little different in 2009-10. Carlyle told the Los Angeles Daily News that the unit will start the season as his shut-down checking line, citing their stellar defensive work in last season's playoffs. "Historically we've played a checking line," the coach said. "With the emergence of Getzlaf, Perry and last year Bobby Ryan, we felt we could play those guys up against anybody's so-called No. 1 line in the league. That's a steppingstone," Carlyle said. "Are they going to be able to do it this year? Well, we're going to wait and see, but we think they're capable of doing that."

Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu and Joffrey Lupul are the likely second line, and third-line positions could go to such forwards as Andrew Ebbett and Erik Christensen.

Atlanta -- The Journal-Constitution reports that coach John Anderson has used a No. 1 line of Ilya Kovalchuk, Bryan Little and newcomer Nik Antropov at practice. "Antropov is going to help because of his size and skill," Little, the right wing, said. "We had a lot of skill last year but we didn't have a lot of size. Now, we've got both.”

Calgary -- Swedish rookie Mikael Backlund is not guaranteed to start the season with the Flames, but the Calgary Sun reports he's getting a crack on the top line with Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen. "It's up to me to play at a top level, and then it's the coach's decision," Backlund said. "But I feel I have a good chance to be here."

Another early combination has Daymond Langkow centering Curtis Glencross and comeback candidate Theo Fleury, who is said to be in great shape for 41 (only 8 percent body fat).

Dallas -- Rookie right wing Jamie Benn is impressing in his audition next to Mike Modano, and the Dallas Morning News says there is speculation that Benn is a candidate to join Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow on the top line. But after only two seasons in the WHL, Benn is probably going to begin the season in the AHL.

Detroit -- The Detroit Free Press reports a third line of Jason Williams, Ville Leino and Valtteri Filppula has looked strong.

Following Wednesday's 3-1 preseason victory against Philadelphia, coach Mike Babcock was pleased with the unit of rookie Justin Abdelkader centering Kris Draper and Patrick Eaves, a possibly the fourth line on opening night. "They worked hard, which was real positive," Babcock said. "Eaves can really shoot the puck and can skate. Abby works hard and brings a lot of energy. I thought we had a lot of good players up front." Draper scored Detroit's first goal and Abdelkader assisted on the game-winner by Jamie Tardif.

Edmonton -- Patrick O'Sullivan is getting the first shot at playing left wing on the top line with Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky, reports the Edmonton Journal. "We have a lot of good forwards, so top two lines, top three lines, whatever. I'm not too concerned who I'm going to play with," O'Sullivan said. But in the Oilers preseason opener against Calgary on Tuesday, O'Sullivan, who scored twice, was on a unit with recently signed veteran Mike Comrie and Ryan Stone. "We played well together," O'Sullivan told the Edmonton Sun. "We're both small players but we can use our speed to make tight little plays and (Ryan) Stone complemented us really well. He goes hard to the net and gets pucks."

Florida -- The No. 1 line of David Booth, Stephen Weiss and Nathan Horton, named "The Sunrise Express," was productive in a preseason victory against Ottawa on Tuesday. Horton had 2 assists and Booth scored a goal. "It's really nice to be back to my position but also to be with the guys I'm playing with," said Horton, who was used as a center last season but is now back at his natural right wing. "Those are great players, and it's really fun to be out there playing."

The Sun Sentinel also reports that the second line looks like newcomer Steven Reinprecht centering Michael Frolik and Cory Stillman.

Los Angeles -- Coach Terry Murray told the Los Angeles Times that a unit of Ryan Smyth, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams would likely remain intact throughout training camp. "I really believe that you have to let veteran guys have time together and see if they can develop some good chemistry," he said. "Knowing all three...they looked like they should complement each other. They play a small space, tight space kind of game, short handoff plays around the net. They can make the no-look pass and know where people are on the ice."

Other early line formations have been Teddy Purcell-Oscar Moller-Dustin Brown, Alexander Frolov-Michal Handzus-Wayne Simmonds, Richard Clune-Peter Harrold-Kevin Westgarth, and Raitis Ivanans-Brad Richardson-John Zeiler.

Minnesota -- The Pioneer Press reports new coach Todd Richards had a top line of Mikko Koivu, Andrew Brunette and Martin Havlat, and a unit of Cal Clutterbuck, Antti Miettinen and Pierre-Marc Bouchard at the start of camp.

Montreal -- The summer-long speculation that newcomers Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez and Mike Cammalleri would comprise a line has not yet materialized. The Montreal Gazette reports new coach Jacques Martin is using center Tomas Plekanec between Gionta and Travis Moen. Gionta said he wasn't expecting to automatically be reunited with Gomez, his former linemate in New Jersey. "That never played into my decision to come here," he said. "We look like we have a great team and it's not up to me to make line combinations. I'll play with whoever, I couldn't care less. ... (Lines) could change tomorrow. It's no big deal."

Plekanec expressed his pleasure with the unit. "It's awesome, I can't say enough good things about it," he said. "Obviously, it's just the first scrimmages and we're not where we want to be, but it's early and it'll just get better."

Nashville -- No surprise here: the No. 1 line is Steve Sullivan, Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont. "It's a boost for everybody having him back in training camp," Arnott told the Tennessean of Sullivan, who missed most of the past two seasons with a back injury before returning in February. "He gives us more offense, which is what we need."

New Jersey -- New coach Jacques Lemaire said he has no intention of breaking up last season's No. 1 line of Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Jamie Langenbrunner, although for the Devils' preseason opener against the Rangers on Wednesday, Brendan Shanahan played right wing in place of Langenbrunner. "The lines that were really good last year will be the same lines this year," Lemaire said. "And if they're not good, they won't be the same lines."

NY Islanders -- The team's official Web site listed the lines in a preview of Wednesday's 3-2 loss at Edmonton. For the professional debut of rookie John Tavares, he centered Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim. Tavares went scoreless with one shot in 22:50 of ice time. He may have new linemates the next time he plays – both Weight and Bergenheim left with groin injuries, and the Isles say both are day-to-day.

Ottawa -- Now that the “Pizza Line” of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley line is no more following the latter's trade to San Jose, newly acquired Jonathan Cheechoo might be paired with Spezza, at least during the preseason. "We feel we've got six or seven guys who can play on the top two lines and we're just looking to create some chemistry," coach Cory Clouston told the Ottawa Sun.

"It's a good complement to my game having a guy who can shoot the puck, get one-timers and goes hard to the net," added Spezza. "Anybody who has watched (Cheechoo) play knows he plays really hard and he's really good down low. That's part of my game I'm trying to work on. Hopefully, I can build some chemistry with him."

In the Senators' 2-1 loss to Florida on Wednesday, Mike Fisher centered Cheechoo and Alexei Kovalev. Fisher and Cheechoo assisted on Chris Phillips' second-period goal. Another line had Spezza between Nick Foligno and Daniel Alfredsson. Milan Michalek, also acquired from the Sharks, did not play after finally arriving in Ottawa earlier in the day.

Philadelphia -- Highly-touted rookie James vanRiemsdyk is playing left wing on a line with center Claude Giroux and right wing Daniel Briere at camp, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "They make the game so easy," said vanRiemsdyk. "You just have to find open ice and they'll get you the puck no matter where you are." vanRiemsdyk scored the Flyers' only goal, unassisted, in a 3-1 loss at Detroit on Wednesday. In that contest he skated with Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell.

Coach John Stevens is trying to fill the gaps with three duos he wants to play together: Giroux and Briere, Mike Richards and Simon Gagne, and Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell.

Finnish rookie winger Mika Pyorala has been impressive playing with Carter and Hartnell. "Sometimes, you put a guy in with Carter and he's trying to give him the puck all the time instead of making the right play," Stevens said. "Mika seems to just play hockey and make the right plays no matter who he plays with."

Ian Laperriere, Dan Carcillo and Darroll Powe appear destined to become a physical, gritty line.

Pittsburgh -- The Post-Gazette reports Tyler Kennedy is a strong candidate for the right wing job on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko. "I like playing with Tyler," Malkin said. "He plays real well."

The spot is open because Maxime Talbot is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Kennedy's old spot on the third line with Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke is being filled by Pascal Dupuis.

San Jose -- According to the Contra Costa Times, the top two lines are locked with Joe Thornton centering Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi, and Joe Pavelski between Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe. Torrey Mitchell is likely to center the third line, and the fourth line is probable to have Scott Nichol centering Jody Shelley and Brad Staubitz.

Candidates to play with Mitchell are Dan Hinote, Jed Ortmeyer, Jamie McGinn, Ryan Vesce, Dwight Helminen, Frazer McLaren and Brandon Mashinter.

The top five defensemen are Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Kent Huskins and Doug Murray.

Tampa Bay -- Steve Downie, an unlikely candidate for the top line with Vincent Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay, is getting a serious look from coach Rick Tocchet, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Tanguay scored a hat trick with those linemates in a scrimmage. Tocchet said he also will try Stephane Veilleux, Martins Karsums and possibly rookie Dana Tyrell in that spot as well.

Another scrimmage line had Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone -- and they totaled 10 points.

"This is the first game. Nobody is anointing the next Wayne Gretzky or Mike Bossy," Tocchet said. "There is a long process that's going on here, but it's nice to see. It's one brick at a time here."

Toronto -- The all-rookie line of Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson and Viktor Stalberg produced two goals but was also on the ice for Boston's tie-breaking score in a 3-2 home loss on Wednesday. "That's irrelevant, that's why you play exhibition games," coach Ron Wilson told the Globe And Mail. "They made a mistake in coverage that can be corrected. What we look at is how they compete. I thought that line played very well all night. Unfortunately, they were on the ice for a goal that cost us the game. But they have speed to burn."

There are more certainties for the Maple Leafs thus far on defense, where Wilson told the Toronto Star that his top pairings will have Tomas Kaberle with Mike Komisarek, and Francois Beauchemin with Luke Schenn. "And the rest of the spots will be wide open," Wilson said, declaring an open competition among Mike Van Ryn, Ian White, Garnet Exelby, Jeff Finger and Jonas Frogren.

Have a fantasy question you want answered? Want advice on a trade proposal, or have a hot tip you want to share with the NHL.com fantasy community? Write to us at fantasy@nhl.com and your question may be answered in the Fantasy Forecast.