The Edmonton Oilers are heading into this season with a different look, and the changes could show up quickly once training camp gets going. Expect four lines to roll, more consistency within those groups, and at least some possibility of a checking unit being matched against top opposition at home.
That kind of setup points to a very different approach behind the bench. Mike Babcock is set to run things differently than Kris Knoblauch, and the early signs suggest the Oilers are preparing for lineup combinations that won’t always track with what the analytics crowd would prefer. The expectation here is simple enough: some players may end up in spots on the depth chart that feel unusual, even baffling at times, but the usage should be steady.
Jason Dickinson is one name to watch in that mix. A pure checking line with tough zone starts and regular work against elite opponents is a real possibility. McDavid-Draisaitl could also see more clean air at home if line matching becomes a bigger part of the plan again.
That would leave the rest of the forward group to soak up more of the heavy lifting against top competition. The Nuge line and Dickinson line could pick up those extra minutes, while Mathieu Joseph, who played 2:40 per game versus elites with the St.
Louis Blues, could see that number rise. Trent Frederic may also get a shot in that role, and Kasperi Kapanen could move up and down the lineup.
Matt Savoie, meanwhile, is the kind of player the Oilers can’t afford to have out for long.
Stan Bowman and the Oilers are set to speak with the media this morning as camp opens, which should start to reveal how the team wants to line things up moving forward. The message from here is that this won’t be a copy of Knoblauch’s template. There should be lineup tweaks, odd deployment at times, and a return to the kind of line matching that can change how games are managed.
On the Lowdown today, the featured guest will be Kevin McCurdy, with the discussion set to cover the media availability and how the roster fits together from here, including Savoie and Jarry.
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Oilers Are Playing A Risky Waiting Game With Matt Savoie
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For the Oilers, the gamble is in the timing as much as the dollars. A recent flurry of CBA-deadline deals has helped inflate the marketplace, and Edmonton may be willing to wait for some of that noise to fade before settling on the terms that matter most for Savoie. It is a patient approach, but in a cap world where every small edge counts, waiting too long can be just as risky as moving too early. [Read more 🡒]