20 in 20: A Line Combination Extravaganza (PART 2)

5 years ago

The off-season line combination extravaganza continues!

If you missed part one of the extravaganza I highly recommend you go back and check out the first five line combos I suggested last week. After going through the first five formations I’ve come to the conclusion that outside of Connor McDavid you can pretty much toss anyone anywhere and make a case for it, just like Todd McLellan.

Here are five more combinations, which feature crazy things like the coaching staff actually believing in Jesse Puljujarvi and Ryan Strome getting another shot on the wing.

SCENARIO ONE: In Which Jesse Puljujarvi Wins Over The Coaching Staff

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

Aberg

You knew at some point I was going to find a way to have Jesse Puljujarvi on the top line. We can debate until we are blue in the face if he’s ready now but I think we can all agree he has the tools to potentially be the perfect winger for McDavid long term. Big, strong, fast with a hard shot.

If Puljujarvi does earn a spot on the top line does that mean Rattie doesn’t make the team at all? Not necessarily. Ty Rattie will begin the season in Edmonton, unless Yamamoto lights the world on fire.

Sexiness: 8/10

Likeliness: 2/10

SCENARIO TWO: In Which Nuge Moves To Center, Draisaitl To The Wing

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

Aberg

I, like many of you, would love to see Ryan Nugent-Hopkins get an extended look on McDavid’s left side, but in a Todd McLellan world that’s not likely to happen. The Oilers Head Coach has made it clear multiple times that he likes the way McDavid and Draisaitl play together so at the first sign of a struggle I could see him going back to that duo.

Moving Draisaitl to the wing would certainly help the depth chart on the right side. In fact, having the big German on the right wing likely gives them their most balanced look due to the left side being deeper than the right. Nuge is familiar with Rattie so that duo could anchor the second line, likely with Lucic.

Sexiness: 7/10

Likeliness: 6/10

SCENARIO THREE: In Which Ryan Strome Moves To The Wing

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

Aberg

I’m sure most of you immediately thought, if Strome plays the wing than Nuge has to move back to center, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Khaira provides the Oilers with some very nice versatility in the bottom six and they would be taking advantage of that in this alignment.

This may end up being the least likely of all 20 line combinations I’m going to present to you but I still needed to have it in the mix. Last season McDavid had more five-by-five shots per 60 with Strome on the ice than any other teammate.

Sexiness: 5/10

Likeliness: 1/10

Oct 24, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matthew Murray (30) makes a save against Edmonton Oilers right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) during the second period at PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

SCENARIO FOUR: In Which Yamamoto Sticks And Rattie Doesn’t

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

Aberg

This is the first combination I have where Rattie doesn’t make the team out of camp. As I stated in Part One of the extravaganza the Oilers absolutely love what Yamamoto brings to the table, possibly to the point of slotting him in with Nuge and McDavid.

In a perfect world Nuge and McDavid can drive a line with Yamamoto while Draisaitl and Rieder push the second line with Puljujarvi on the right side.

Sexiness: 9/10

Likeliness: 4/10

SCENARIO FIVE: In Which Rieder Gets A Look On The Top Line

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

Rattie

The Oilers might as well give Rieder a look in as many different pre-season situations as possible. The new German can play either wing and his speed may be a good fit alongside McDavid.

With this configuration you’ll notice I have Rattie on the outside looking in. I don’t see Rattie being a fit anywhere in the bottom six and if Rieder is on the top line I’d like to see a beefy second line with Draisaitl between Puljujarvi and one of Lucic or Khaira. Aberg gets around the ice better and could be more effective than Rattie on a third line.

Sexiness: 6/10

Likeliness: 5/10

RANK ‘EM

Once again, if you didn’t see anything in Part Two that tickles your fancy just hang tight as I’ve got ten more combo’s coming up over the final two extravaganza entries.

As for the five options I’ve laid out today, here’s how I’d rank them.

Scenario Five: In Which Tobias Rieder Gets A Look On The Top Line
Scenario One: In Which Jesse Puljujarvi Wins Over the Coaching Staff
Scenario Two: In Which Nuge Moves To The Middle, Draisaitl To The Wing
Scenario Three: In Which Ryan Strome Moves To The Wing
Scenario Four: In Which Yamamoto Sticks Out Of Camp And Rattie Doesn’t

In Part Three we’ll take a look at what things would look like if McLellan wants to go with McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins down the middle. What a time to be alive!