logo
OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA
Looking at who could play alongside Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers celebrate goal by Andrew Mangiapane
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Oct 13, 2025, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 13, 2025, 12:15 EDT
Comments
It’s clear that through two games, Trent Frederic may not be working out on the Edmonton Oilers’ top line.
Against the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, Frederic has been linemates with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but has yet to record a point and has four penalty minutes in those two games. Meanwhile, McDavid and Draisaitl each have three points.
Frederic undoubtedly has a role on this team, but it’s become evident that he might be in the Oilers’ bottom-six. That said, who could replace Frederic to play alongside McDavid and Draisaitl, at least until Zach Hyman is back?

David Tomášek

One player who has to be under consideration to play alongside McDavid and Draisaitl is David Tomášek. After playing 10 seasons in Europe in countries such as Czechia, Finland, Russia, and Sweden, Tomášek was signed this past off-season.
The right-shot winger has impressed in his Oilers tenure, both in the regular season and pre-season. He’s also shown to have chemistry with McDavid and Draisaitl, as the Czech forward has found a net-front presence on the first power play unit.
Tomášek has just one assist through the first two games, but he was robbed a handful of times by Thatcher Demko in the Oilers’ most recent game. Moreover, that assist was a pretty one, finding Draisaitl for a power play goal.
The 29-year-old isn’t quite Hyman-lite, but there are a ton of positives through the first two games, and he should get a look on the top line.

Andrew Mangiapane

The signing of Andrew Mangiapane is looking to be a great one for the Oilers, as the 29-year-old has two goals in two games. These goals have been hard-earned as well, as he won a puck battle that led to his first goal (that happened to be against his former team). In the game against the Vancouver Canucks, he picked off a pass and outwaited Demko.
Mangiapane has been one of the Oilers’ best players this season, so it make sense that he should get a look alongside Draisaitl and McDavid. The counterargument to that is that he’s found chemistry playing alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matthew Savoie, which could be a legitimate second line until Hyman returns.
Savoie is also an option as he’s had two solid games, but the Oilers should ease him into minutes.

Jack Roslovic

During the Oilers’ season opening, the team added another forward into the mix, announcing the signing of free agent forward Jack Roslovic. Between Tomášek, Mangiapane, and Roslovic, the latter likely earns an extended look on the Oilers’ top line.
Last season, Roslovic scored 17 five-on-five goals with the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring a career-best 22 goals. He plugs in well on the right wing, but can also play centre when Hyman’s return forces the Oilers to shuffle the lines.
Moving Roslovic to the top line allows the Oilers to keep the trio of Nugent-Hopkins, Savoie, and Mangiapane together, while pushing Frederic to the bottom six. Who knows, maybe Frederic and Tomášek can find some chemistry on the Oilers’ third line.
All of this is to say that the Oilers are in a really good spot as they have a ton of depth. With a fully healthy roster, there are many different ways they can construct their roster.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News