This in from the Oilers practice, news of major line and d-man pairing changes at the Edmonton Oilers practice. Jeff Skinner and Troy Stecher are moving into the line-up, with Viktor Arvidsson and John Klingberg moving out, and Connor Brown bumped up to the top line. Arvidsson’s has the second highest points per 60 at 5-on-5 of any Oilers forward, ranking 21st overall in the 2025 playoffs for forwards.

Ryan Rishaug@TSNRyanRishaug Stecher with Nurse Brown on 97 line with 93 Mark Spector???? @SportsnetSpec Indeed, a full skate for Oilers. Nugent-Hopkins skating as well. Tony Brar ? @TonyBrarOTV EDM lines – Thursday Morning Skate: RNH – McDavid – Brown Kane – Draisaitl – Kapanen Skinner – Henrique – Frederic Podkolzin – Janmark – Perry • Arvidsson, Ryan, Jones Ekholm – Walman Nurse – Stecher Kulak – Bouchard • Klingberg, Emberson, Dineen Bob Stauffer of the Oilers reported Stuart Skinner in the starter’s net, just as he said would happen yesterday on Oilers Now.

My take 1. Hmm. I like the players being moved in, Jeff Skinner and Troy Stecher, and think it’s the right thing to turn to them just now. But I don’t know why Viktor Arvidsson would be taken out and not Trent Frederic, who has struggled both with injury and with making plays in the offensive zone.

Frederic’s game lacks explosiveness. Meanwhile Arvidsson has played strong two-way hockey and scored a key goal in Game 1 against Florida. 2. For the third year running Darnell Nurse has struggled to find his “A” game in the playoffs, even as he so often brought it in the 2024-25 regular season. This has meant a constant changing of the guard when it comes to Nurse’s playoff partners, with Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais and Brett Kulak all struggling along with him last season, and Evan Bouchard, Brett Kulak and Klingberg struggling with him this year. Philip Broberg eventually came in to form a steady pairing with Nurse last playoff year. And Troy Stecher has brought out the best in himself and Nurse this year. It’s critical that the Oilers get solid minutes out of Nurse and Stecher. They’re a solid bet to give the team just that. 3. Klingberg’s defensive game has been trending down for two weeks, so it makes sense that he gets a rest. He had a strong start to the 2025 playoffs, but the grind has taken a toll on him, it would seem. 4. Arvidsson deserves a promotion to a top line, not a seat in the stands. But it seems the Oilers might well prefer the possibility of Frederic’s physical play over Arvidsson’s solid two-way game. Again, I don’t like this move, as Arvidsson has been a significantly better two-way player compared to Frederic in the playoffs. That said, it’s a solid idea to move Jeff Skinner into the line-up. The Oilers need skill, they need a shooter. Skinner might well come through with a big goal. 5. Florida’s third line is killing it on the attack at even strength. Connor McDavid is setting the pace for the Oilers at 3.03 points per 60 5-on-5, then Arvidsson, 2.74 per 60. Frederic is at 1.13 per 60, Brown at 1.63 per 60. Again, the Oilers need scoring, so I find this move with Arvidsson to be befuddling. But perhaps this is just game day practice line juggling and Arvidsson will play tonight. 6. If you are complaining about Zach Hyman being hurt, I get it but it’s futile. The Oilers don’t need excuses just now. They need to get it together and bring their ‘A’ game. They need to bring that game especially on defence. Florida got off to a great start scoring early in Game 3 because of shoddy, unfocused defensive play by the Oilers. That can’t happen again. If it does, the team doesn’t deserve to beat Florida. Simple as that. 7. Big night for Draisaitl to prove he’s one of NHL’s best defensive forwards. He can do jt. But now is the time. At the Cult of Hockey LEAVINS: Keys to winning Game 4 STAPLES: ‘Love it’: Master tactician Kris Knoblauch ‘pulls fast one,’ this time on hockey media