Oilers Expected To Shake Up Lineup, Change Potentially Coming For Jeff Skinner
The Edmonton Oilers have been experiencing a major stall in secondary scoring recently, and one insider is saying a lineup shakeup will be coming soon - potentially including a change for Jeff Skinner.
Oilers analyst Bruce Curlock believes that Coach Knoblauch will soon heavily mix up the team's top six, likely swapping out Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Brown, Corey Perry, and potentially Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Forward Zach Hyman is expected to return next game from injury, which will help the mix up.
Outside of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, no other Oilers forward has even 5 goals in 25 games so far this season. Additional scoring outside the superstars is desperately needed.
Coach Knoblauch has a few options to promote to the top six, but perhaps the best option could be veteran Jeff Skinner. He's been riding on the third and fourth lines, despite being a consistent 30+ goal threat in his career.
Jeff Skinner has been in Knoblauch's doghouse, but it's now at a point where his offence is dearly needed. Skinner was projected to have 40 goal potential next to McDavid or Draisaitl, and the Oilers need to tap into that again instead of leaving him on the 4th line.
Another option could be Adam Henrique, who played exceptionally well alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman in last year's playoffs.
After being shutout in a litmus test game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Oilers scoring woes have reached a level they can no longer ignore. Knoblauch needs to reorganize the top six, and they'll surely get a boost as Hyman and Arvidsson return from injury.
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Oilers will shake up their lineup in their next game? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 62.7 % |
| No | 20 | 33.9 % |
| See Results | 2 | 3.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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