Edmonton Oilers Must Make a Decision on a 3rd Line Centre

The Edmonton Oilers’ needs have remained generally the same for a number of years. To help this team reach its potential, they need a solid goaltender to split starts with Stuart Skinner, a top-four right-shot defenceman, and a top-six winger. We’re going to focus on the latter here but with a bit of a twist.

The Oilers have been mixing and matching their lines all season since there has generally been a lack of scoring. Since Kris Knoblauch took over as head coach, there has been a little more stability. The top line is set with Connor McDavid centering Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but there have been some issues on the second line in finding Leon Draisaitl a winger. While it is a very small sample size, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod seem to be the solution for now. Their speed, puck retrieval ability, and style of play complement Draisaitl nicely. But with McLeod moving up and over to the wing (where he fits better), this leaves a hole at the third-line centre position.

The Oilers’ internal options are limited, but instead of looking at potential top-six wingers on the trade market, their sights should/could switch to a cheap player who checks a number of boxes and can play centre on the third line. This type of trade isn’t anywhere close to happening as the Oilers do have a couple of options they will have to properly evaluate before making their first trade of the season. I think the main focus of management at the moment is goaltending, so acquiring a forward, whether that be a top-six winger or a third-line centre, isn’t the top priority.

Internal Options to Fill Oilers’ 3C Hole

Since McLeod was moved to the second line to play the wing, Derek Ryan has shifted over to the middle. He has played the majority of the season on the right wing in the Oilers’ bottom-six but is a sneaky good fit at centre for the team. He is in his ninth season in the NHL and has never finished below 50 percent in the faceoff circle in a season. Even this season while only taking 110 draws, Ryan has won 63 (57.3 percent). While reliable and hard working, the 36-year-old isn’t a long-term option and doesn’t provide enough offence to be a viable option for a Stanley Cup hopeful (from “MATHESON: Edmonton Oilers deal for Derek Ryan a win for all”, Edmonton Sun, July 13, 2023). If he was the fourth-line centre, then the Oilers would know they are eating well with their depth.

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