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Edmonton Oilers

I guess the coaches are going to continue fooling around for a few more games... still trying to sort things out. In that regard I think there is a little psychology that could be applied here -- something that promotes a little internal competition. I see the team best performing where very talented centres have their own wingers (call it chemistry if you like). Workable examples might be Draisaitl with Savoie and Howard; McDavid with Roslovic and Hyman (soon); Nugent-Hopkins with Mangiapane and Tomasek;
And Henrique with Podkolzin and Kapanen and Frederick as the extra Centre/Winger. Each line could then develop their own style.
On a different note I dug up this old photo of the 3-Wing Flyers (best use of the name since it was a NATO air base). I played on this team for two years in the '60s (right wing); it was a mens team composed mostly of NCOs but there was myself and one other high school student on the team (Jim Cockburn -- now retired RCMP). The fun part... we got to play the national teams of Germany, France and Italy (to show them how the game is really played). At this time there were only the original six NHL teams and international play was not a thing for the NHL squads.
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Hockey is a game of skill, positioning, and play-making. I don't know how one can tackle the last two concepts if the lines keep changing. The coaching staff have to still be trying to figure out who best fits where -- things will change dramatically when that is put to bed. This team is dripping with skill; it just needs to be aligned properly. BTW those three concepts are the axioms that apply to most team sports.
 
I get the alignment and testing out phase, but that does not excuse a lack of basic hockey skills; especially for vetrans.
 
that does not excuse a lack of basic hockey skills
It partially does -- have you ever played on a team where a group of newbies has been introduced to the line-up (maybe different for a goalie); they don't yet have their bearings set and for a veteran that can throw their game off where plays are misread or executed poorly -- it leads to frustration and (sometimes) resentment. And I still think it is a mistake to have Draisaitl and McDavid on the same line (except for power plays). Hockey at its best when all of the pistons are firing in sequence is a game (a 4th factor) of team emotion. I think a little patience is called for here.
 
Interesting.
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View the Oilers Projected Lineup vs. Ottawa below:

Draisaitl – McDavid - Podkolzin
Mangiapane – Nugent-Hopkins - Roslovic
Savoie – Philp - Frederic
Howard – Henrique - Tomasek

Ekholm - Bouchard
Nurse - Walman
Kulak - Emberson

Skinner
Pickard

Still experimenting -- Give Draisaitl his own line -- that would be a better experiment to follow (maybe this holds until Hyman returns).
 

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