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NHL Line Combinations for 2016-17 (Pacific Division)

By Ryan Ritchie

April 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) and center Ryan Getzlaf (15) celebrate the 6-1 victory against the Calgary Flames following game one of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) and center Ryan Getzlaf (15) celebrate the 6-1 victory against the Calgary Flames following game one of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 6, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets during a preseason hockey game at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets during a preseason hockey game at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

Edmonton Oilers

Milan Lucic – Connor McDavid – Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jesse Puljujarvi
Drake Caggiula – Leon Draisaitl – Iiro Pakarinen
Patrick Maroon – Mark Letestu – Zack Kassian
xs: Kris Versteeg, Matt Hendricks

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera – Mark Fayne
Darnell Nurse – Kris Russell
xs: Brandon Davidson

Cam Talbot – Jonas Gustavsson

Hey, Oilers fans, why don’t you ask those in Leafs nation what happens when management makes boneheaded decisions giving away top draft picks for virtually nothing. It’s a recipe that usually ends in disaster. The only potential saving grace here is phenom superstar Connor McDavid – but even that’s a lot to put on the shoulders on one individual.

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There’s a chance that Leon Draisaitl could start the season playing alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the second line. If that’s the case, Finnish rookie Jesse Puljujarvi slides down to the third to play with Drake Caggiula. Yes, that’s right, the same guy fans ridiculed at the time of the signing, calling him a similar element to what Edmonton already had plenty of in their system. As we predicted, Caggiula is turning heads already.

Having the mix of Milan Lucic on the top line and Patrick Maroon, Zack Kassian, and Matt Hendricks lurking in the bottom six is the perfect blend of grit and physicality to help protect the Oilers young stars who have been oft-injured in recent years.

Looking to the blue line, it seems the top pairing is set with Klefbom and Larsson. The addition of Kris Russell gives coach Todd McLellan a bit of versatility with his defensive group. Likely serving on the right side (as a left-handed shot), Russell has the ability to log extra minutes alongside Andrej Sekera for a nice defensive-minded duo.

He could, however, be the perfect candidate to play alongside Darnell Nurse on that third pairing. They asked the rookie defender to do too much in his own zone in 2015-16, so it makes sense to give him a more defensive minded presence which may allow him to get a little more involved in the offense. He can take a few extra risks pinches, join the rush, or even carry the puck out himself more often with Russell hanging back.

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