The Edmonton Oilers took to the ice for practice today with a much different look to their lineup, including three notable absences with Darnell Nurse, Stuart Skinner, and John Klingberg.

The Edmonton Oilers took to the ice for practice today with an adjusted lineup after losing Connor McDavid to suspension, where once again, Skinner has been bumped to the fourth line.

It’s important to remember he was getting a lot of power play time in Anaheim, which helped get him over 20 goals last season. He’s not getting those minutes in Edmonton, but has still managed to register seven goals. He’s not the perfect player, but I like having him in the roster in a bottom six role.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Edmonton Oilers center Jeff Skinner, center, struggles to control the ... collects the puck as Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry pursues in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Denver.

Hart Winner Leon Draisaitl is ridiculous pic.twitter.com/ToWCTxSkC0 The only thing I disliked about Leon Draisaitl’s performance last night is that more people out east probably didn’t stay up to watch it.

A new inside report has connected the Edmonton Oilers to signing Mikko Rantanen in free agency this season, and they may actually have the cap flexibility to make the deal without losing significant roster players.

According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, the Edmonton Oilers are among the favourites to sign star forward Mikko Rantanen if he leaves the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency.

Rantanen has 64 points in 50 games. If the Oilers were to add a player of his caliber, it would certainly bring stability to the revolving door that has been the Oilers' top-six forward group. Additionally, Rantanen won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche. And you can never have too many winners on your team.

The Oilers' top three scorers are Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Evan Bouchard. They have scored 75, 66, and 37 points, respectively. Having more players producing over a point per game would be beneficial.

THROUGH GAMES OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 2025

EDMONTON, Alberta − Jeff Skinner has always been an upbeat, chipper type so there was no reason to expect him to bash the Sabres when this corner visited with him after practice Friday in Rogers ...

The Edmonton Oilers have Connor McDavid back after a three-game suspension and, with that, came some pretty major line changes.