The Oilers change their lines from game-to-game. Whether it’s due to a strategic reason or roster changes such as injuries or trades, the Oilers coaching staff try to ensure that they have a competitive advantage every game so changes to their lines happen often.
The Oilers top power play unit consists of Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Leon Draisaitl as forwards, with Evan Bouchard and Connor McDavid as defenceman. The Oilers possess sensational offensive depth in their forward groups so they opt to use four forwards in their top line rather than the traditional three forwards, two defenceman split.
Injuries have a major effect on the Oilers line combinations. If a player is ruled out of an NHL game due to injury, this can lead to the entirety of the Oilers lines tonight changing as they need to adjust for the overall shift in their roster.
The number 2 is donned by defenceman Evan Bouchard on the Edmonton Oilers. Bouchard is one of the top NHL players on the Oilers roster and has spent all six years of his NHL career with the Oilers.
The current captain of the Edmonton Oilers is Connor McDavid. McDavid made history in 2016 when he became the youngest player to be named captain in NHL history at just 19 years old.
Connor McDavid’s current linemates are Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Serving as his teams top centre, McDavid utilizes the goal-scoring ability of Hayman and Nugent-Hopkins to find scoring chances against any NHL defence they face.
