Bottom-six forwards aren’t the first thing that come to mind when it comes to the success of the Edmonton Oilers.

That’s reserved for the likes of superstar centres Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and the host of talented wingers they are surrounded by on the two top lines.

Unfortunately, despite all that offensive might, the past two years have shown it takes more than two lines if a team wants to be the last one standing at the end of a long and arduous playoff run.

The Florida Panthers proved it with a third line that was bolstered by the trade-deadline addition of Brad Marchand, joining Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, as the trio finished the series at an impressive plus-20.

They’re not the first team to discover the formula for success lies in a championship-calibre third line. Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins also managed to turn one Cup into back-to-backs in the past 10 years by going out and getting bona fide top-six talent to play on it.

And last year, once the depth took to the ice, Florida was able to pull away and never look back, coming back from trailing 1-0 in the series, to winning 4-2.

Can Edmonton follow a similar blueprint?

There is an interesting case study to be had early on in Oilers training camp.

As efforts were made in the off-season to become younger and faster, lines are being shaken up out of the gates, including who’s been playing beside McDavid on the top line.

The byproduct of the youth movement has seen Ryan Nugent-Hopkins get relocated to the third line, which isn’t at all a bad thing as far as depth goes.

Plus, it gives the former first-round draft pick a chance to play his natural position.

“Ryan’s a really smart hockey player, defensively responsible but can also make plays,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “He’s a good disher and distributor. I think there are certain players he can play with that he can really complement. I thought we got the best out of him when he played in the middle, that is his natural position.

“Obviously, he’s been playing a lot of left wing the last couple years, but if you were ever to ask him what his position is he’d probably answer centre. And I do think he is a better centreman. Out of necessity, he’s had to play left wing.”

Now, it could all change by the time the regular season starts, of course, and the Oilers could go back to doing what’s familiar. But for now, Nugent-Hopkins’ addition to the third line has the potential to bring the kind of offensive punch that can bolster secondary scoring — something that has been sorely lacking on a top-heavy Oilers offence over the years.

“What we do this year? I guess it would probably be split right now,” Knoblauch said. “If I look at after 82 games how much he played on the left wing and how much at centre, I’d probably say maybe 40-60. He’ll definitely be playing more centre this year than he had last year.”

G-MAN’S TAKE: Having someone with the experience and touch of Nugent-Hopkins available to play lower in the lineup would add a threat not regularly seen from the Oilers’ depth. He is comfortable at either centre or left wing, and would still be available to jump up into Leon Draisaitl’s spot at second-line centre whenever head coach Kris Knoblauch decides to play his two superstars on the top line. Of course, this could all be pie in the sky if free-agent forwards Andrew Mangiapane and David Tomasek don’t end up panning out as the Oilers have planned.

Doesn’t a third line also have to be physical?

Edmonton made quite a commitment to Trent Frederic in the off-season, locking up the 27-year-old trade-deadline acquisition for the next eight seasons, despite not having seen him play 100 per cent healthy yet.

The six-foot-three, 221-pound St. Louis product certainly has the size to bring a level of ruggedness and physicality to the Oilers third line, and has designs on playing centre there, himself.

“I’m flexible with doing anything. I think that’s the good thing about our team, is that there are so many guys that can do that. Guys that can play centre or jump to wing or vice versa,” said Frederic, who came into camp centring the fourth line. “I just want to do the best I can at centre and give them that option that I can do that, and that I’m comfortable playing all three positions.”

With a fully functional ankle, Frederic said he will be able to move around the ice better and show more of what he has to offer from his game, and didn’t shy away from the notion he will be playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

G-MAN’S TAKE: For the Oilers’ sake, Frederic better work out one way or another. Eight years is a big commitment, and leaves a lot of term to have to buy out if they end up deciding it’s just not going to work out the way anyone intended. As for the upcoming season, Frederic has a real opportunity to show what he can do and find out where he fits, which has the potential to be a big benefit to both sides.

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge