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Strome, Caggiula relegated to extra forwards at practice
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Photo credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Cam Lewis
Dec 7, 2017, 14:00 ESTUpdated: May 18, 2018, 15:47 EDT
After a disappointing, listless loss against the Flyers last night, Todd McLellan has shuffled the Oilers’ lines at practice. Notably, Ryan Strome and Drake Caggiula are on the outside looking in.
Last game, Strome and Caggiula played the wings with Leon Draisaitl. The line was completely invisible against the Flyers, and now, Anton Slepyshev and newly-acquired Nathan Walker will be on Draisaitl’s wing instead. Is there an injury we don’t know about? Something else going on?
Both Strome and Caggiula, who were expected to play key roles in regards to depth scoring this season, have been disappointing. Strome has shown some solid flashes at times but only has four goals through 28 games thus far. Caggiula had a nice stretch when playing on Connor McDavid’s wing (I mean, who wouldn’t?) but only has one point when not playing with the captain.
Also, since we’re on the Strome topic, Travis Yost had an interesting nugget about the trade that we all love talking about.

The original trade was Eberle for Strome and CDH. Then the Isles said nah. So: Eberle for Strome.

Catherine Silverman
Catherine Silverman
@catmsilverman

This is why I just don’t understand the whole “yes but he’s cheaper” argument. If you wanted a cheaper player and were fine with significantly lower productive output, why not ask to sweeten the pot?

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Nobody wants to hear it, but hell, I’ll bring it up anyway. Jordan Eberle is on pace for more goals than Ryan Strome is points. No matter how lazy, mentally weak, or awful you want to believe he was based on one poor season (one poor playoff showing, really), the Oilers could use his scoring right now.