20 in 20: A Line Combination Extravaganza

Photo credit:Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

5 years ago

So when you hop online looking for your Oilers fix in late July what are you hoping to find? Don’t worry, I know what you need. I have what you need.

Over the next 20 days, I will dish out 20 possible line combinations for the Oilers when they drop the puck at the beginning of the 18-19 season. I feel like I’m taking a risk here because if I can’t nail the Oilers opening night lineup with 20 different attempts I will be known as a loser for the rest of my days. I will be breaking this series up into four different pieces over the next 20 days featuring five different combinations per article.

In his last availability, Peter Chiarelli told us what we saw at the end of last year isn’t necessarily what we will see to start this season, so what will we see? Here we go.

SCENARIO ONE: In Which Ty Rattie Makes The Team

Nuge – McDavid – Rattie
Rieder – Draisaitl – Caggiula
Lucic – Strome – Puljujarvi
Khaira – Brodziak – Kassian
Aberg

I don’t see Ty Rattie making the Oilers out of camp unless it’s on the top line with McDavid and Nuge. Outside of his stint on the big line at the end of the season, Rattie has never really contributed anything at the NHL level.

Even with Rattie making the team the right side is still very much lacking other legitimate options.

Sexiness: 4/10

Likeliness: 8/10

SCENARIO TWO: In Which The Oilers Go Big/Young On Their Second Line

Nuge – McDavid – Rattie
Khaira – Draisaitl – Puljujarvi
Lucic – Strome – Rieder
Aberg – Brodziak – Kassian
Caggiula

The Oilers missed out on a major opportunity down the stretch last year. For the final ten games of the season, I would have had Draisaitl locked in between Khaira and Puljujarvi. If this trio actually had an opportunity to develop chemistry they could become a load to handle in the offensive zone. All three forwards actually move very well for big men and have each proven, while not consistently yet, to be a menace on the forecheck.

Sexiness: 7.5/10

Likeliness: 4/10

SCENARIO THREE: In Which Tobias Rieder Plays RW

Nuge – McDavid – Rattie
Lucic – Draisaitl – Rieder
Caggiula – Strome – Puljujarvi
Khaira – Brodziak – Kassian

Aberg

The majority of this 20 in 20 Line Combo’s Series will be spitballing but I do actually think Tobias Rieder will start the season on the right-side with Draisaitl.

A couple of things will need to happen for this scenario to actually play itself out. First of all, the coaching staff will need to play Drake Caggiula where he actually belongs, or at least not in the top six. This plan also requires Milan Lucic to get another look in the top six to start the year.

In a perfect world, I’d flip Caggiula and Khaira but I’d be shocked if McLellan starts Khaira higher up in the lineup than Caggiula. Hell, I may even flip Aberg and Caggiula.

Sexiness: 6.5/10

Likeliness: 7/10

Mar 20, 2018; Raleigh, NC, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd McLellan looks up from behind the players bench against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 7-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

SCENARIO FOUR: In Which Yamamoto Makes The Team Out Of Camp

Nuge – McDavid – Rattie
Rieder – Draisaitl – Yamamoto
Lucic – Strome – Puljujarvi
Khaira – Brodziak – Kassian
Caggiula, Aberg

I know for a fact that the Oilers absolutely love the way Yamamoto both thinks the game and competes. He will very likely get an extended look with a trip overseas to start the year.

The trickle-down effect is what I probably like the most about this option. The Khaira-Brodziak-Kassian combination has the potential to be an above average fourth line in this league. This would mean the Oilers would have to scratch Caggiula, which isn’t something they’ve done very often over his first two years so I’m not sure they will start now.

Sexiness: 6/10

Likeliness: 2/10

SCENARIO FIVE: In Which Aberg Doesn’t Party Too Hard

Nuge – McDavid – Rattie
Rieder – Draisaitl – Aberg
Lucic – Strome – Puljujarvi
Khaira – Brodziak – Kassian
Caggiula

I like the idea of Pontus Aberg but he left me wanting more a little too often last year. I still would like to see Aberg get a decent look in some solid offensive situations in the pre-season.

He has produced much better than Ty Rattie in their respective American Hockey League careers and clearly gets around the ice much better than him as well. Aberg’s best stretch last season saw him pick up seven points over four games while playing with Leon Draisaitl. It’s a small sample size but Aberg actually finished with 1.99 points per 60 (5on5) last season, which was good enough for fourth on the Oilers, one spot ahead of Nugent-Hopkins.

If Aberg is focused and realizes this may be his last crack at a regular NHL job I still believe he could be a nice little surprise for the Oilers this season. This would be big for the Oil because it would allow Yamamoto to develop in the AHL.

Sexiness: 7/10

Likeliness: 3/10

RANK ‘EM

Like I mentioned at the beginning this is part one of four so if you don’t see a line combination you can fall madly in love with or at least stalk from affair on Instagram please just be patient.

As for the options I’ve laid out so far I think I’d rank them like this.