On Monday, we wrote about the Edmonton Oilers' depth down the middle with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at center.
Now, on Tuesday, it appears they're doubling down ahead of their meeting with the Utah Hockey Club.
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Adam Henrique has been moved down to center the fourth line, giving Edmonton one of the deepest center groups in the entire league. Between Henrique on the fourth line and Nugent-Hopkins and Viktor Arvidsson on the third, the Oilers' bottom six should have no trouble winning its minutes.
The lineup from Tuesday's morning skate also features a huge opportunity for Jeff Skinner on the first line. Despite his struggles staying in the lineup, Skinner has been one of Edmonton's most consistent forwards in 2025. With RNH on the third line, there's no better player to take his place next to Connor McDavid than Skinner.
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While this lineup does deprive Leon Draisaitl of quality second-line wingers, it's not as if that's stopped him yet this season. He's scored 49 goals and 101 points mostly next to Vasily Podkolzin and a struggling Arvidsson--how different are Corey Perry and Connor Brown, really?
Tuesday's projected lineup also features the return of Mattias Ekholm from his six-game absence and therefore the debut of a full-strength blueline with Jake Walman. With how well Walman's fit in his first week with the Oilers, a fully operational Ekholm could make their blueline into a juggernaut.
Calvin Pickard seems poised to start against Utah, continuing the recent timeshare with Stuart Skinner. Pickard played well and picked up an assist on Draisaitl's overtime winner in his last start against the Islanders on Friday.
The puck drops between Edmonton and Utah at 7 p.m., on Sportsnet.
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