If the NHL regular season started tomorrow, how would Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch deploy his lineup? Read More
If the NHL regular season started tomorrow, how would Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch deploy his lineup? I am getting a bit ahead of myself. Lots of Summer remains. Training camp will decide a few things. And that stretch from the start of the regular season through American Thanksgiving will really separate the wheat
Article content
If the NHL regular season started tomorrow, how would Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch deploy his lineup?
Article content
I am getting a bit ahead of myself. Lots of Summer remains. Training camp will decide a few things. And that stretch from the start of the regular season through American Thanksgiving will really separate the wheat from the chaff.
Article content
Article content
But gazing into that old crystal ball through the lazy, hazy days of summer, I see this…
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
Scenario 1-
Article content
Headline News
Article content
Nugent-Hopkins – McDavid – Hyman
Article content
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Mangiapane
Article content
Frederic – Henrique – Savoie
Article content
Janmark – Lazar – Kapanen
Article content
Ekholm – Bouchard
Article content
Nurse – Walman
Article content
Kulak – Emberson
Article content
Skinner – Pickard
Article content
Comments
Article content
-Call this the “traditional” lineup, if you will. You know you can rely on that first line. Podkolzin meshes well with Draisaitl who also seems to like playing with him. Mangiapane should be an effective “give & go” guy with Leon. The third line puts Savoie with two veterans, both responsible defensively, and Frederic with the size. Line four is a “checking” line with some grit and decent speed on the wings. Pairings are “most predictable”. Predictable? Sure.
Article content
Scenario 2 –
Article content
Henrique – McDavid – Hyman
Article content
Nugent-Hopkins – Draisaitl – Savoie
Article content
Podkolzin – Frederic – Mangiapane
Article content
Janmark – Philp – Kapanen
Article content
Ekholm – Bouchard
Article content
Nurse – Stecher
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
Kulak – Walman
Article content
Skinner – Pickard
Article content
Comments
Article content
-Adam Henrique is a very smart player who should be able to think with McDavid, Hyman is the forechecker and all three can score. This puts Savoie in an even better opportunity to be an offensive contributor and still with two vets for shelter. Frederic will get a shot at Center, this trio would forecheck like a damn, with Mangiapane the finisher. Line four is subbing Philp for Lazar, maybe a training camp result. Nurse pairs with a guy he has a reasonable history with. And that would be one of the best third pairings in hockey.
Article content
Scenario 3 –
Article content
Draisaitl – McDavid – Hyman
Article content
Frederic – Nugent-Hopkins – Mangiapane
Article content
Podkolzin – Henrique – Savoie
Article content
Kapanen – Tomasek – Jones
Article content
Ekholm – Bouchard
Article content
Nurse – Kulak
Article content
Walman – Emberson
Article content
Pickard – Skinner
Article content
Comments
Article content
-This is the “nuclear” option. Some love it, some hate it. But it is a load to handle for most teams. This moves Nuge back into the middle where he was effective during the playoffs, and with two truculent wingers. Savoie again gets two vets but in an even more sheltered situation. Jones as your 13-14F would likely see some action here. Maybe Tomasek slots in higher but lets start him here. Kulak proved he can play his off-side, and I do think Emberson will get a long look. I put Calvin Pickard first in case the starter falters, but not because I hope he does