As the perennial contender Edmonton Oilers gear up for the playoffs, near disaster has struck. Both their MVP players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are out of the lineup. While the nature of their recovering timeline will be vague, the hope and focus will be on returning to full force by the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team will have a challenge on its hands. The Oilers have not yet clinched a playoff spot, and must still continue to produce with their stars absent. All the players in the lineup will be faced with the challenge of a bigger role, the opportunity to prove themselves without two of history’s greatest players.
Let’s take a look at how the Oilers might set up their forwards with their two top centres out of action.
Who will centre the lines in their absence?
The trouble down the middle is certainly obvious, as it would be for most teams without their top two options. The good news is that the Oilers have two capable centres in the lineup, both of whom are worthy of bigger roles. Previously, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Adam Henrique were operating as the third and fourth line centre respectively. They are capable of being the second and third line centres for a contending team, though now they will likely be tasked with being the first and second centres.
It will be asking a lot of both of them, but it will give each of them a chance to prove themselves. The bigger question comes when considering who the next two centres will be behind them. Mattias Janmark has some experience here, and can help maintain some stability on a checking line. Kasperi Kapanen has been used at centre by the Oilers, despite the fact his experience as a centre in professional hockey is extremely limited.
Still, the Oilers do not exactly have an obvious answer. Both Derek Ryan and Noah Philp have played centre for the Oilers this season, and are far more natural options than Kapanen. Due to his age and experience, most fans will hope that Philp gets another look ahead of Ryan. Trent Frederic might be the best option of all, but his timeline remains longer than McDavid or Draisaitl’s are, for now.
Top-six wingers to stay the same
Convention suggests that the Oilers will try to retain some consistency in the lineup before considering drastic overhauls. This means that some of the winger tandems the Oilers have been using will remain intact. The Oilers have been shuffling their lines a lot this season, but sometimes recent traction might be enough to build on.
For one, Nugent-Hopkins has been centring a line with Viktor Arvidsson and Vasily Podkolzin. Arvidsson and Podkolzin did show some chemistry on a line with Draisaitl early in the season, though their production was a bit underwhelming. Both wingers play with a level physicality that should help them at this time of the season. Seeing as they might remain a line when the Oilers return to health, we should expect this trio to be entrusted with more icetime. On the other hand, if the Oilers are starved for offence they might opt for another fit.
Zach Hyman and Jeff Skinner had been playing together with McDavid as their centre. This represents the winger duo with the most offensive upside, making it a crucial role for Coach Kris Knoblauch to figure out. Obviously whoever ends up in this spot will be hard pressed to imitate McDavid’s performance. Still, Skinner and Hyman bring different elements for our mystery centre to work with.
Adam Henrique is the obvious option. Relegated to a checking role on the Oilers, Henrique’s offensive output has not been a focal point this season. He does still have something to offer in this area as a connector between Hyman and Skinner, as well as a defensive conscience for the trio. Naturally, Henrique will be hard pressed to equal McDavid, but the offensive usage could bode well for his confidence heading into the playoffs.
Experimenting with the bottom-six
As previously mentioned, Janmark can play down the middle. Keeping him in a checking role makes sense, a continued partnership with Connor Brown seeming appropriate. Kapanen, meanwhile, is left to centre the fourth line unless Ryan or Philp is called up. Remaining are Max Jones and Corey Perry, one of which will be paired with the Janmark and Brown duo.
It might be nice to experiment by giving Philp another audition. As a centre who can gill in defensively, Philp would be a responsible choice to complete the forward group. Just the same Matthew Savoie would be an interesting call up option, though less of a centre at this point. Short of their best scorers, the Oilers might be desperate for offence, where Savoie might help.
Who will step up on the power play?
McDavid and Draisaitl play the flanks on the power play, so there will be ample opportunities for both players to step up in their stead. Arvidsson and Skinner could easily stand in on the flanks, where both are at their best. While far from the same quality, the Oilers are equipped to ice a reasonably skilled unit all the same.
Again, Savoie is the intriguing option. The Oilers could opt to use a second power play unit more often, with Perry at the net front, Henrique in the bumper, and Jake Walman at the point. These increased offensive opportunities could help some of these players to gain confidence, bringing the best version of themselves to the forefront at a most crucial time.
Absence of star players allows experiments
From a larger perspective the challenge of missing McDavid and Draisaitl is an opportunity. The Oilers have a chance to prove themselves outside their superstars, the chance for the rest of the roster to prove themselves worthy. With McDavid becoming eligible for an extension after this season, his teammates proving themselves in this way is meaningful.
Of course the larger test is for the Oilers to reach eternal glory with their captain, but the weeks ahead present an interesting circumstance. If the Oilers are to win a Stanley Cup with McDavid and Draisaitl, they must prove that they are a competent team without them.
McDavid and Draisaitl have been two of the best players in the league for some time, yet they cannot achieve team success alone. The maturation of the team has a lot to do with their excellence and leadership, but that can only go so far.
The Oilers have continued to grow around their stars over the seasons. This process has taken time, from missing the playoffs, to getting dispatched in the early rounds, to being overmatched in the conference final, to now, fully realized as a perennial contender. The Oilers are not perfect, still leaving something to be desired even at full health.
After coming within a game of glory last season, there is only one thing left to prove outside of winning a Stanley Cup, proving that the team can still produce without McDavid and Draisaitl. Though the mood across Oil Country is understandably soured by their injury absences, the mood within the dressing room should be determined and focused. If the Oilers are able to play well in this stretch it will prove that they are ready to achieve their goals.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
