Can the Oilers Afford to Keep Their New-Look Top Line Together?

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Mike Babcock’s first season behind the Edmonton Oilers bench has already answered a long-running question: who plays with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? So far, it’s Vasily Podkolzin, and the results have been excellent. However, there’s a small problem. Given the Oilers current injury situation, keeping these three together comes with a bit of risk.

Oilers Now host and color commentator for the Oilers, Bob Stauffer cited stats from Natural Stat Trick: the trio has an expected goals for percentage of 80.43% at 5-on-5 and has outscored opponents 8-0 in 53:09 together. McDavid has 13 points and a plus-12 rating through five games, Draisaitl has nine points, and Podkolzin has five goals and seven points. All three sit in the NHL’s top 25 in scoring.

The challenge is what’s behind them.

With Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie all out, the Oilers’ depth is thin, and several players are being asked to play above their usual level or out of position. Jason Dickinson — who just returned from an injury and is getting his legs under him — for example, has been serviceable as a stand-in at center but may be better suited to a third-line role.

Babcock Has Another Tough Question to Answer for Oilers

That raises a tough question for Babcock: does he keep his best line together, or spread the offence to balance the lineup? Hyman is expected back Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings, which would give Edmonton a second line of Hyman, Dickinson and Kapanen and begin to ease the strain. The way the Oilers have played of late, that might be enough.

Edmonton is the NHL’s only undefeated team in regulation. They’ve gone 4-0-1 without many of their top six forwards. If they can hang on and keep making slight improvements as players get healthy, there won’t be an issue. But, if things start to slide and the offense isn’t there from the depth guys, the decision to split up McDavid and Draisaitl might be unavoidable.

If Nugent-Hopkins and Savoie return too, Dickinson can slide down, and the top nine looks well-rounded, making it much easier to leave the top line alone.

For now, Edmonton has little reason to break up what’s working, but a healthy lineup will make that decision far easier.

Next: The Oilers Have Found a Winning Formula, but There’s a Big Catch