After watching tonight's game against the Penguins, I got to thinking (I know, I should stop thinking), how does one team have so much individual talent but can't do a damn thing thats team oriented? They just don't have the playmaker, shooter, netcrasher setup entirely yet. At any rate, I would take the lines he drew up tonight and throw them in the garbage. No syncronicity, no role definition, just a mish-mash of players skating up and down the ice trying to will the puck into the other team's net. Since we are starting to know that the Nuge is going to be here all year, may as well start finding a home for him in the lineup.
Smyth-NugentHopkins-Paajarvi
- RNH is the playmaker, Paajarvi is the shooter, and Smyth is the net crasher. Paajarvi has shown a knack for playing the right side and its an experiment that I would try here. Let RNH's vision take over and Smyth does what he does best and thats net-crash.
Hall-Horcoff-Eberle
- Hall is the playmaker, Horcoff is the shooter, and Eberle is the stealth rogue net-crasher. Hall is the speedy puck transport being a pass/shot option, Horcoff is a straight up shooter and Eberle plays the role of hovering around the net picking up garbage. The line has the ability to improvise a bit/change roles on the fly, but this should be the template. Horcoff is keeping the seat warm until Lander can take over there full-time.
Omark-Belanger-Hemsky
- I'll admit, this line won't do much of anything, Omark is the playmaker while Hemsky is the net-crasher, doesn't do much for me either. What it will do though is allow Hemsky to be in the game, taking a regulare shift, where on the power play, hopefully the real damage will come from him. Omark will be rendered useless on a line like this hence the reason why I think its time for him to move along.
Petrell-Lander-Jones
- As much as I'd like to have Jones have a bigger role, he won't as long as Hemsky and Omark are here. All three of these guys would have huge roles on the penalty kill. Otherwise, 5-on-5, go out and be as greasy as can be.
Sutton Gilbert
Barker Petry
Smid Peckham
- This defense isn't getting any better or worse until Whitney gets back, so it is what it is. But as long as they play like they did tonight where, they block a ton of shots, get sticks in lanes, and just make life difficult for the other team they will be fine. Key is not to take any needless risks for this D unit, just keep the play in front of you.
PP1:
Smyth-NugentHopkins-Hemsky-Gilbert-Paajarvi
- RNH gets the half wall here, not Hemsky, but RNH. Smyth and Hemsky play around the net on their off wings. Paajarvi play the point on the umbrella setup and Gilbert plays across from RNH for one-timer purposes. The key is to have puck movement and one-timer options all over the ice.
PP2:
Hall-Horcoff-Eberle-Petry-Barker
- Hall gets the half wall here, with Horcoff and Eberle playing around the net on their off wings. Hall and Petry play pitch and catch across from each other while Barker gets the point on the umbrella style power play. The key is to have puck movement and one-timer options all over the ice.
PK1:
Belanger-Jones-Smid-Peckham
- The players that should be relied upon the most to get penalties killed.
PK2:
Lander-Petrell-Sutton-Gilbert
- The 2nd unit. Sticks in lanes and watch your area.
PK3:
Smyth-Horcoff-Barker-Petry
- The "just in case" unit.
All in all, the Oilers need some basis of cohesion on their lines, just throwing out random players together and hoping they work, just doesn't work. Find a playmaker, a shooter and a net-crasher and work from there. I will admit, a lack of right handed shots really hurts this forward unit, something I hope Mr. GM will fix in the future.
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