Oilers' Power Play Problem Leaves Depth Forwards Without Rewards

The Edmonton Oilers boast one of the most lethal power-play units in the NHL, featuring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard.

However, this steadfast commitment to their top unit may create unintended challenges.

On most other NHL teams, one of the easiest and most effective ways to reward a depth forward is by dangling power-play time as a result of strong play. But that's not the case on the Oilers, where it would take a near act of God to see one of the five regular players on that first unit removed from it.

Even when the Oilers' power play isn't clicking – it's now in the middle of the pack at 20.6 percent – there's a feeling that it's just a matter of time. The five guys who make up the first unit are too dynamic and too skilled to be stopped forever. It's simply a matter of time before the floodgates open.

That leaves the depth forwards in an unenviable position. Regardless of their hustle or willingness to play a gritty style, they have little opportunity to earn coveted power-play time.

Players such as Vasily Podkolzin, who consistently goes to tough areas of the ice and executes high-percentage plays, seemingly have no pathway to such rewards. Even after recording three goals in three games at the end of November, he's only played two seconds of power-play time this season.

Someone like Jeff Skinner, who has a track record of solid power-play production and could use a boost offensively, only averages 51 seconds of power-play time.

It saw an injury to see a change, which is the only reason Corey Perry was on the top unit for a few games.

After Hyman's total power-play ice time of 76:21, Perry is ranked sixth on the team with 33:38, a massive drop-off. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm has 29:20, while Skinner has 23:05.

Only seven Oilers averaged more than a minute per game on the man advantage. The New Jersey Devils, which have the top power play in the NHL at 32.6 percent, have 10 current players who average more than a minute.

Even the Boston Bruins, who have David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Elias Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy logging the top four total power-play ice time in the NHL, still have 12 regulars averaging more than a minute.

It's A Catch-22 Situation For The Oilers

It's hardly worth complaining that Edmonton's power-play unit is so elite when clicking. Every other NHL team would love to have the option to deploy such a group. But it creates a scenario where the Oilers must find other ways to reward those productive depth forwards.

Edmonton's offense still ranks 15th in goals-for per game at 3.04, and only 78.1 percent of their goals were by forwards, the lowest percentage in the league. If they want their forwards not named McDavid, Draisaitl and Hyman to score, they must try something different.

The Oilers’ approach, while understandable given the success of their elite unit, risks demoralizing players lower in the lineup who might otherwise thrive with additional opportunities.

While it’s challenging to argue with success, the Oilers may need to weigh the long-term benefits of taking advantage of opportunities to get depth players into high-event situations. With their current struggles in finding secondary scoring and depth contributions, a positive kick in the pants to build confidence might be helpful. They'll need those players to produce in the playoffs.

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