The Oilers have fallen to 4-2-1 under Ken Hitchcock with their loss to Dallas on Monday. In those 7 games, the Oilers have scored only 12 goals in regulation time (1.7/game). In 20 games under Todd McLellan this season, the Oilers scored 54 goals during regulation time (2.7/game). Many were expecting the Oilers to score fewer goals under Hitchcock, but this is ridiculous. Secondary scoring was a concern before the coaching change, but it has dropped off considerably in Hitchcock’s tenure thus far.
Hitch’s first move was to create “The Identity Line” featuring Kyle Brodziak, Zack Kassian, and the struggling Milan Lucic. The idea was to get Lucic playing a more simple and physical game by pairing him with players that have similar styles. McLellan had Connor McDavid paired with Leon Draisaitl at the time of his departure, and Hitchcock didn’t deviate from that. However, he changed McDavid’s usage by double shifting him late in games, especially during games in which there was minimal special teams play. McDavid has been given shifts with a rotating cast of wingers playing on an otherwise scarcely used 4th line. Hitch has said that you have to have two 3rd lines if you plan on winning in the Western Conference. That’s a fancy way of saying that you need every line to contribute something to the game. That hasn’t been what the Oilers forwards have been delivering to their new coach so far.
1.7 goals per regulation contest isn’t going to get the job done on most nights. That’s asking an awful lot of the defence and goaltending, which has inarguably been quite good under Hitchcock so far. The Oilers have allowed 16 goals in regulation time in those 7 games, but 3 of those have been empty netters… 13 non-empty net goals against in regulation time in 7 games (1.85/game) is great!
The Oilers powerplay has gone 4/17 under Hitchcock (23.5%), which is pretty good… but that accounts for 1/3 of their offence in regulation time under Hitchcock! At even strength, the Oilers have 8 goals in regulation time in 7 games (1.14/game). 1.14 goals per game at even strength isn’t going to cut it. I addressed Chiarelli’s plan for this season in my last article. He is banking on guys who are either nearing or at their peaks to produce some offence for the Oilers. There is offence to be had on this roster beyond McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins. It’s up to the coach to get the most out of the players that he has by putting them in positions to succeed. I have loved almost everything about what Hitchcock has done in Edmonton so far, but I don’t think that he has found the best line combinations yet.
Three of the top 6 forwards are set in stone: McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins. That leaves 3 wing spots available in the top 6. Those spots are currently being occupied by Drake Caggiula, Jesse Puljujarvi, and Alex Chiasson. 9 of Caggiula’s 10 points this season have come at even strength, which is the best total by an Oiler not named McDavid, Draisaitl, or Nugent-Hopkins. He has been surprisingly effective this year. He has been feisty in the offensive zone in creating turnovers, and he has shown that he has decent hands. I’m alright with Caggiula being in the top 6… for now. Hitchcock has taken responsibility for Puljujarvi’s development, and he has claimed that Puljujarvi will be in a top 6 role within a month (quote from Puljujarvi’s call-up prior to the game in LA). It’s clear that Hitchcock plans to have Puljujarvi in the top 6. I’m also good with Puljujarvi being in a top 6 role because he’s not going to learn anything playing under 10 minutes per night with guys that don’t suit his style of play.
My problem is with Chiasson. Yes, Chiasson is 3rd on the team with 11 goals; but…
Click HERE if you’d like to read why Alex Chiasson shouldn’t be in the Oilers top-6.
