This in, Edmonton’s line-up and pairings with Leon Draisaitl out due to a family health matter in Germany. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been moved to second line centre, with Vasily Podkolzin taking his place on the top line.
Podkolzin-McDavid-Hyman
Frederic-RNH-Kapanen
Howard-Roslovic-Savoie
Mangiapane-Lazar-Janmark
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Emberson
Walman-Stastney
Jarry
Pickard
Scratched: Regula, Ingram
48 games
My take
1. Many Oilers fans and commentators have long been keen to see Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at centre. The move has now been forced due to the compassionate leave for Draisaitl to go back to Germany on a family emergency.
2. I’ve been OK with RNH on the top line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, mainly because the top line has been the NHL’s best line for seven weeks. Why mess with success?
At the same time, I think when the playoffs roll around, there’s a good chance RNH will play centre, just as he did in last year’s playoffs against Dallas when coach Kris Knoblauch decided to team up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the top line.
3. I was not a huge fan of RNH at centre early in his career. He wasn’t strong enough to win battles consistently in the defensive slot. He was often out-muscled on Grade A shots against. But that’s changed. In the 2025 playoffs, with Hyman and Evander Kane on his wings, RNH was outstanding in the defensive slot.
Maybe he’s gotten stronger. Maybe he’s more determined not to lose battles. Maybe it’s both, but there’s no centre I’d rather see on the ice protecting a lead than RNH.
4. Last season RNH was teamed up with two aggressive and big wingers in Hyman and Kane. Now he’s teamed up with two big wingers in Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen. While Kapanen has been playing the best hockey of his NHL career since he returned from injury, Frederic has been a major disappointment this season.
That said, Frederic had his best game of the season Monday night in Chicago, when he chipped in on seven Grade A shots without one mistake on a Grade A shot against. It was a genuinely great performance, the kind the Oilers expect from Frederic. Perhaps he can get it done in the Top 6 tonight.
5. There’s no winning the Stanley Cup in Edmonton without a strong third-line centre. Adam Henrique has demonstrated he’s not that player any more. Curtis Lazar is a stretch there. Jack Roslovic has an outside chance, but his defensive play and conscience aren’t that close to being good enough for him to thrive in that role. Besides, he’s a solid scoring winger. Edmonton should play to his strengths.
But RNH has what it takes to get it done as a two-way centre. There will be a strong gravitational pull to play him on the wing on the top line when Draisaitl returns. But as the playoffs draw near, the need to win will be paramount, and I suspect Edmonton’s ability to win will be best served with RNH at centre.
At the Cult of Hockey
Staples: Knoblauch and Oilers have again found a path to Stanley Cup success
Things getting messy for Oilers winger, goalie with today’s line-up changes
Player grades: Isles goalie singlehandedly thwarts Oilers onslaught, 1-0 NYI win