Decisions, decisions… How will the Edmonton Oilers deploy their forwards when Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins return?Hyman practiced with the team on Friday for the first time since he drew into the opening night lineup. The winger is close to a return to action, but he wasn’t in a regular practice jersey. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is also likely to return soon. Both players are elite forwards, and some would call them the heart and soul of the team. Considering how important Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins are, it’s amazing how well the Oilers have fared so far. The team is an impressive 3-0-1 early in the season.

Let’s look at some options.

Oilers’ forwards lineup at practice on Friday:

Podkolzin – McDavid – Draisaitl

Hallander – Dickinson – Kapanen/Hyman

Formenton – Michaels – Joseph

Frederic/Jones – Samanski – Howard

Injured forwards not available: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Colton Dach, Matt Savoie, Mattias Janmark

After running these lines at Friday’s practice, the newly acquired Filip Hallander played his first game against the Sharks. Edmonton traded defenceman Spencer Stastney to pick up the Swedish forward from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Otherwise, the lineup is almost identical to the one that beat the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.Forwards lineup option one

Podkolzin – McDavid – Draisaitl

Hyman – Nugent-Hopkins – Kapanen

Hallander – Dickinson – Frederic

Formenton – Michaels – Joseph

Howard, Jones, and Samanski are extra players

Forwards lineup option two

Nugent-Hopkins – McDavid – Hyman

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen

Dach – Dickinson – Frederic

Formenton – Michaels – Joseph

Hallander, Howard, Samanski, and Jones are extra players

This version of the lineup splits up McDavid and Draisaitl, which many hockey pundits have called for. Babcock has said he planned to split the duo up for some away games. Those plans were abandoned when injuries hit. In this formation, Nugent-Hopkins is moved to the wing, possibly his better position, and reunited with McDavid and Hyman. This lineup also has more size with two big wingers for Draisaitl and Dach on the third line. It could only be an option if Dach’s injury is short-term.Forwards lineup option three

Hallander – McDavid – Hyman

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen

Nugent-Hopkins – Dickinson – Frederic

Formenton – Michaels – Joseph

Dach, Howard, Samanski, and Jones are extra players

This is a deep team

The new depth in the organization gives Babcock a ton of options, once everyone is healthy. Quinn Hutson and Viljami Marjala are also performing well for the farm team in Bakersfield. This is one of the deepest Oilers’ teams ever.

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