With just one win in their past five games, the Edmonton Oilers opted to switch things up ahead of their meeting with the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
Head coach Todd McLellan split up his three centres—Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—onto three separate lines during Saturday’s practice, going against the grain after playing Draisaitl alongside one of his other two pivots exclusively thus far.
The Oilers’ Sunday-night tilt will mark the first time Draisaitl will line up at centre in 2017-18, likely with Ryan Strome and Drake Caggiula alongside him.
His former spot on the top line will be occupied by recently acquired veteran Mike Cammalleri, who was moved up to the top spot after getting a shot there during Edmonton’s recent loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
It seems McLellan even experimented with some other, more risky arrangements for his new top line:
Milan Lucic appears set to round out McDavid’s line, with Nugent-Hopkins likely to skate with Patrick Maroon and Anton Slepyshev.
McLellan indicated his new line combinations are a call for better play from his top nine, as the Oilers are looking for more from their top talents.
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