Warren Foegele’s latest demotion in Edmonton Oilers lineup is unjust

It’s hard to argue with Leon Draisaitl getting promoted up to the top spot alongside McDavid and Hyman, given they’ve outscored the opposition 7-1 across 96 5v5 minutes under Knoblauch. Their 4.37 goals for per hour is an otherwordly rate, but the rest of the Oilers lineup suffocates when they’re together, combining for 1.72 goals for per hour.

The rest of this lineup beyond the top line is pretty gross. Mattias Janmark, an energetic game against Calgary aside, shouldn’t be anywhere near the top-six doubly so considering recent healthy scratches.

For as great as Foegele has been in the top six, he seems to lose his offensive touch on the third line, instead resorting back to his defensively staunch self. That group is fine, given he and Ryan McLeod are an elite defensive duo, but the fourth line continues to be a head-scratcher.

Dylan Holloway is in purgatory on the Oilers’ fourth line alongside two offensively lifeless players Derek Ryan and Connor Brown. With his skill set, there’s no reason for him to be so far down the lineup.

If the Oilers go out and score a bunch of goals, with the second and third lines chipping in, the arguments above will mostly be for naught. But the truth of the matter is that seeing three rock-solid performances from Foegele get rewarded with a demotion down the lineup is concerning.

What else is concerning is loading up that top line, only to create two third lines and a fourth. McDavid, Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have been one of, if not the best lines in the entire league this season, and their being a stable force has allowed Draisaitl to center his own line, doing so dominantly.

Going back to a 1A and 1B line with McDavid and Draisaitl allows this team to function more optimally, and have the offence be more spread out. We’ll see how long these lines last.