Two trends are coming together on the Edmonton Oilers to present a perplexing problem for coach Kris Knoblauch.
First, after a long season of mediocre play, criticism and controversy, Knoblauch’s Botton 6 forwards on the third and fourth lines are playing excellent hockey. In fact, many of them are now outplaying the wingers on the top two lines.
Yes, the Bottom 6 guys are playing fewer minutes, their sample size is exceedingly small, and they’re not facing as difficult competition. But forwards like Max Jones, Adam Henrique and Josh Samanski, Edmonton’s fourth line against Chicago, are just now outplaying veterans like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jack Roslovic and Zach Hyman, Edmonton’s second line in that same game.
Against Chicago, there wasn’t a line I wanted to see more on the ice in the third period with Edmonton protecting a lead than the solid Samanski, Henrique and Jones trio.
In the past six games, with the Oilers now on a five-game winning streak, Connor McDavid has been Edmonton’s best forward overall, but there’s been significant contributions from Bottom Six players at even strength, with Samanski and Jason Dickinson both playing solid two-way hockey at centre, Max Jones looking like a veritable NHL power forward, Adam Henrique breaking out of his major attacking slump, and Curtis Lazar, Trent Frederic and Robby Jarventie all playing well in their one-to-three game opportunities.
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It’s worth noting that at the Edmonton Oilers training camp, players like Samanski, Jones and Jarventie were the longest of shots in ever making the Oilers.
Here’s my depth chart from that time, with Samanski ranked seventh for Oilers centres and Jones eighth for left wingers. But both players have clawed their way up. Other players have been set aside, including traded Andrew Mangiapane, waived Noah Philp, released David Tomasek, injured Mattias Janmark, and demoted Ike Howard.
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And, of course, Dickinson was a Chicago Blackhawk at that time.
The second trend is that some of Edmonton’s veteran players are injured, with Zach Hyman missing a recent practice. We also see a significant drop in Hyman’s play recently. He’s recently been a shadow of what he was earlier this year.
Edmonton needs Zach Hyman for the playoffs, no? The team needs a healthy Hyman, correct?
Is this not a perfect time to engage in some load management with Hyman and give him a stretch of games off to heal up for the playoffs?
That’s how I see it. The team has kept on winning without Leon Draisaitl for now. It can also win without Hyman.
I know some see the whole idea of load management as a bad idea. I also know some proud vets won’t want to sit. This presents a problem for Knoblauch but he’s got a solution.
Edmonton has got a solid player in Curtis Lazar, who is now healthy and good to go. Why not give him some games?
Why not call up Javentie to see some more of him? Why not play Spencer Stastney on defence and give a veteran or two a rest?
Edmonton’s winning streak, it’s improved play from role players, and the injury status of Hyman and possibly other vets suggest it’s time to change strategy in the next few weeks, and to go with the healthiest players for now, giving key veterans some much needed rest and recovery time.
At the Cult of Hockey
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