Labor Day weekend means someone has to come up with innovative ideas for discussion that no one has thought of, and then write about it. Until that article arrives, let’s run some lines based on the current roster. As soon as I post this, Edmonton will invite this year’s Kris Versteeg, so there is some benefit to the exercise.

I’m not going to win any awards for originality but it’s also true that I will win the ‘if it ain’t broke’ award. There’s not an ounce of doubt in my mind that Todd McLellan will try RNH on McDavid’s line, but my guess is the coach returns to his successful line of one year ago.

The good argument for moving Draisaitl to center this year, for me, is gone. Moving him to center last season would have placed some restrictions on his offense and made him more affordable moving forward. All of the reasons to move Leon now are based on vague arguments (“Leon isn’t worth $8.5 million as a winger!” and “we have to see if he can drive his own line!”) that were worthwhile questions before the contract.

Now? Just win, baby.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will face tough competition again this season, but the team can afford to gift him with Milan Lucic and a bona fide possession player in Jussi Jokinen. If this line can play tough opposition and outscore them at 5×5, the big problem next summer will be finding a way to keep all three.

I think we may see a soft minutes “Kid Line” built around Ryan Strome this season. Edmonton acquired a solid young player who has not played in a consistent role for some time. Caggiula and Puljujarvi lack experience but do have talent, plus Anton Slepyshev would also be available should one of the wingers stumble.

I don’t think it makes sense to play Nuge on RW. I don’t think it makes sense to play Jesse Puljujarvi on a line that will face tough opposition. This line combination allows Todd McLellan to employ a pretty nice 4line (Anton Slepyshev-Mark Letestu-Zack Kassian) that might end up being the 3line some nights.

Of course the lines won’t look like this ever, but it does work as a conversation starter on a Saturday night. One year ago, I wrote an exceptionally accurate post predicting the lines for 2016-17 correctly and you gave me no credit. Shame on you. That post is here. Shame.