This in from Bob Stauffer of the Oilers, Edmonton’s lines at practice in New Jersey, with controversial winger Jeff Skinner getting a bump up to the position most of us thought he’d occupy all year, second line wing with Leon Draisaitl.
RNH-McDavid-Hyman
J. Skinner-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Podkolzin-Henrique-Brown
Jones-Kapanen-Perry
(Janmark not on ice)
Walman-Bouchard
Nurse-Stecher
Kulak-Emberson
S.Skinner
Pickard
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said Janmark was at the hotel sick but was expected to play Thursday night.
Asked about Jeff Skinner playing with Leon Draisaitl, Knoblauch said, “If he’s gonna play, he’s complimentary of playing with skill players. He’s a guy who can score goals. The other night (against Buffalo), we did some switching later in the game, but in the first periodm the line of Janmark, Brown and himself in the first period, I thought they might have been our best line that period. But with Janmark uncertainty, and then tomorrow night there’s a good chance that is where Skinner will be playing.”
On injured and ill Mattias Ekholm, Knoblauch said Ekholm is likely to stay in Edmonton and will rejoin the team when it comes home.
My take
1. Skinner’s even strength analytics have been mediocre this year. He’s been just OK as an even strength player, OK at creating Grade A shots, but leaking too many Grade A shots against for a winger.
That’s not what was expected of him when interim GM Jeff Jackson signed him to a one-year deal at $3 million. Many hoped and expected he and fellow newcomer Viktor Arvidsson would slot in on Leon Draisaitl’s line, giving Edmonton two top scoring lines. But not to be.
The scrutiny and vibe around Skinner is all the more tempestuous because instead of making sure he signed Dylan Holloway to a new deal, Jackson spent his cap space on veterans like Skinner, Arvidsson and Adam Henrique. It was a brutal error.
2. While Arvidsson has played solid two-way hockey, he’s had terrible puck luck. He can’t buy a goal. He should have about 15 goals now based on his shot quality. Instead he’s got just seven.
Skinner, meanwhile, has been iffy on defence all year, but he’s found a way to put up even strength points. He’s got skill around the net, and has put up a good rate of even strength points, 1.84 per 60 minutes. That is second only to Draisaitl and McDavid on the team, and it’s a big reason why so many fans are pushing for Skinner to get a shot on a top line again.
3. Of Skinner’s 620 even strength minutes, he’s played just 66 with McDavid, the two of them getting outscored one goals for, eight against.
In 105 minutes with Draisaitl, Skinner and Drai are three goals for, three against, a better signal of possible success in games to come.
4. Instead of getting regular shifts with Draisaitl or McDavid, Skinner has been relegated to playing on the third or fourth line. He’s looked better in that role in recent games, but it’s still possible he can make a mark on a top line. Nonetheless, this is starting to feel like “last chance gas” for Skinner in that regard. Newcomer Trent Frederic will soon be joining the team, and he might slot in on a top line or play third line centre, and bump Adam Henrique on to a top line. That might well cut into Skinner’s playing time even more, not to mention the possible return of Evander Kane for the 2025 playoffs, or even the return of hot shot rookie Matt Savoie from Bakersfield.
Skinner needs to pot a goal or two if he plays with Draisaitl, or dig in and help create four or five Grade A shots at least.
He may well have it in him. He’s a smart and skilled attacker. A major challenge presents but Skinner may well have the quality to make the most of it.
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