Answer: They all belong.

That's right. Place the Atlanta Thrashers' top line up there with the best of the NHL's best. It doesn't quite have the ability to dominate like Lemieux's line in Pittsburgh, and it doesn't have the incredible physical talent like Sakic's in Colorado or Arnott's in New Jersey. But Brunette-Ferraro-Audette is an elite line when considering offensive production.

Will Ferraro retire?

Two years ago, Ray Ferraro was poised to hang up his skates and enter the broadcast booth. He had just finished some subpar seasons with the Kings – 19 goals in two seasons while battling injuries – and he didn't want to face the prospect of uprooting his family for the fourth time in his career. But when Atlanta offered him a two-year deal in August of 1999, he decided to take it. Last year, he regretted it. But this season, the Thrashers are competitive and Ferraro is having fun – and producing – again. "A lot of people thought last year might have been his last year," said Fraser responding to how difficult it was for the ultra-competitive Ferraro to play through a season when his team won just 14 of 82 games. "But this kid just loves playing hockey and is getting some success and reward … At 36, he looks like he's 26 and is having fun." So, when his contract expires at the end of this season, what's Ferraro going to do? "I don't know," he said. "I really don't. I try to look at things in really short blocks of time and not look ahead. Coming into this year, I considered it my last and was trying to have as much fun and do as well as I can. "Before I decide to do it again, I have to decide mentally if I'm committed to the physical side. If I'm not 100-percent committed at my size (5-9, 200), it's a waste of time … (But) I feel as good in January as I have in I can't tell you how many years." According to Atlanta's general manager, the Thrashers already have decided they're committed. "If Ray's going to want to play hockey next year, we want it to be with us," Waddell said.

Of the top 19 scorers in the league entering Tuesday night's games, only four sets were linemates – Alexei Kovalev and Martin Straka (Penguins), Radek Bonk and Marian Hossa (Senators), Zigmund Palffy and Luc Robitaille (Kings) … and Donald Audette and Ray Ferraro (Thrashers).

That's four pairs of players out of 30 NHL teams. That's not to say the Thrashers' line is one of the four best in the NHL. But it does mean a lot of elite teams – Dallas, Toronto, St. Louis and even Detroit – don't have a trio to match the combined 130 points (45-85-130) that Atlanta's top unit has through 41 games.

"I think the one thing I'm surprised about is that, consistently, we've found a way to score," said Ferraro. "All three of us go to the net. We know our strength is not individually. We work as a line and don't score pretty ones. Our sum is better than the parts."

Ironically, the trio wasn't the coaching staff's first choice of combinations.

And unfortunately, this season might be its only one together.

"Through the summer, we were hoping to put (Tomi) Kallio – a speedy, highly skilled kid – with Ferraro and Brunette," coach Curt Fraser said. "We wanted Audette with (Patrik) Stefan, a good playmaker. Patty got hurt in camp, and Ray wanted to play with Donald.

"Bruno (Brunette) quietly gets it done. Ferraro gets everything he's achieved out of hard work, while Audette came in to become a go-to guy and has responded by scoring some huge goals."

Brunette and Ferraro have been with Atlanta since the franchise's first game, but Audette has been the key additional ingredient. General manager Don Waddell acquired Audette last spring from Los Angeles; Audette wanted more ice time than he was getting with the Kings, and L.A. wanted some grit and leadership for the playoffs. Audette and Frantisek Kaberle arrived in Atlanta for Kelly Buchberger and Nelson Emerson on March 13 – Buchberger was the guy L.A. wanted.

"I played with Donald in L.A., and we really felt comfortable playing together," Ferraro said when asked why he especially wanted to be matched up with Audette. So, Fraser granted Ferraro his wish, and it's proven to be the perfect move.

But the line might be short-lived because all three of its members are potential free agents this offseason. The biggest question mark, however, is Ferraro who almost retired two years ago.

"All three, I think, their contracts are up," Fraser said. "I'm having fun with these guys. … Hopefully, they are a big part of our future."

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.