He was brought into the fold to presumably play in a Top 6 forward role, but Jeff Skinner might start the Edmonton Oilers’ 2024-25 campaign lower down in the National Hockey League team’s lineup.
The winger was skating among the bottom six forwards during Monday’s practice after playing much of the pre-season on a line with fellow newcomer Viktor Arvidsson and star centre Leon Draisaitl. In his place was Mattias Janmark, who skated effectively on a third line with fellow Oilers Adam Henrique and Connor Brown during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
While Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday he hasn’t yet committed to the makeup of Wednesday’s opening lineup against the Winnipeg Jets, he said the idea of pairing Skinner with Henrique would give the team “more balanced scoring.”
“I think right now, it’s best to play with …