UPDATE
Josh Archibald has signed a two year extension with the Oilers worth 1.5 million a season. After struggling out of the gate, Archibald has been one of the better Oilers depth players. Since December 1st, Archibald has 19 points through 39 games, playing predominantly in a third and fourth line role. Archibald leads the team in hits and is part of the top penalty killing unit.
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Connor McDavid has become a problem for the Edmonton Oilers.
With that provocative sentence out of the way, here is the issue.
Last night the Draisaitl, RNH, and Yamamoto line continued to do what they have done since the end of December; out-chance and outscore the opposition. Last night against the Blackhawks, the trio dominated possession, running a CF% of 65%. Shots were 9-3 for that line on the ice and the line scored 2 goals at 5 on 5 while not allowing a single one.
The McDavid line was not nearly as good.
At 5 on 5 Tippett tried two different combinations. First we saw Neal and Ennis alongside McDavid. Together they played 6:06 together at 5 on 5, had a CF% of 23.08 and were outshot 1-7. McDavid had the only shot on net.
Clearly this group floundered so Tippett tried Athanasiou and Ennis next to Connor. This trio played 6:52 together and had a CF% of 40% and had one shot on net while allowing six. Once agian McDavid was the only forward on this line who produced a shot.
This wasn't a one off either. The Dallas game isn't a fair example because everyone got caved in but let's look at the 8-3 win over the Predators. McDavid played with Ennis and Archibald and had a team low 28.57CF% and were outshot 7-4. They were the only Oilers line that were outshot in that game.
McDavid has taken the spot that RNH used to have the misfortune holding. The Oilers best forwards are playing together but there isn't enough of a wealth of talent to spread it onto two lines. Connor is an amazing player but there is still only so much he can do playing next to third and fourth line players.
With all that being said it's time for me to speak some blasphemy. It might be time to breakup the RNH, Draisaitl, Yamamoto trio.
Hear me out. Keep Draisaitl and McDavid apart and run the two as dominant elite centres, but move one of the other high end wingers onto another line to provide some balance.
So who stays and who goes?
There are a few different ways to look at it but the best option appears to be to put RNH on a line with Connor McDavid and leave Yamamoto and Draisaitl as a duo. Yamamoto is still a young player who has found his game and is playing at a high level, keeping him with the centre he is familiar with gives him a level of consistency.
Meanwhile RNH has really taken off since the beginning of January, specifically rediscovering his wrist shot that made him such a threat in junior. While I would never call RNH a triggerman he is certainly capable of generating offense.
Who goes next to both? I would place Andreas Athanasiou next to Draisaitl and Yamamoto. Doubles has the top end speed that Leon is very familiar with, playing next to Connor McDavid for so long and can be the player to carry the puck into the offensive zone.
Meanwhile I would reunite Zack Kassian alongside Connor McDavid on the right side. Though not nearly as cerebral as Yamamoto, Kassian can be an effective player to chase the puck into the boards and force it out for the likes of McDavid and RNH.
A new look forward line combo would look something like this:
RNH-McDavid-Kassian Athanasiou-Draisaitl-Yamamoto Neal-Sheahan-Ennis Khaira-Haas-Archibald Chiasson
It might go against conventions to split up a line that is generating so well but Tippett needs to find a way to have two top six lines that are capable of out-chancing the opposition before playoff time or Edmonton might have an extremely short run.
Thanks for reading!