Edmonton Oilers testing new strategy with top players on power play
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers need their powerplay to be elite for the team to have success, and they may be taking a new approach with it this season.
Zach Hyman has been ruled out for at least the first month of the season, which will force the Oilers to adapt their top 6 and powerplay. On special teams at least, some of the changes might stick.
Oilers testing new powerplay units in preseason with Zach Hyman injured
With Hyman out, Oilers newcomer David Tomasek is taking the assignment on the top power play unit, and the team is also practicing with a talented second unit.
Tomasek has impressed early on at training camp with his offensive skill, and could thrive in a power play specialties role. If not him, the Oilers have plenty of other options to try - and Zach Hyman may be falling on that list anyway.
Taking a look at the numbers, analysts at OilersNation found that Hyman's power play production has seen a stark drop over a long sample size.
Then, in the 15 playoff games he played, Hyman did not score a single goal on the PP, and the Oilers often put Corey Perry in his spot. Simply put, his finishing ability saw a big decline.
With Hyman suffering a wrist injury in the 2025 playoffs, one that is expected to keep him out for the beginning of this regular season as well, there is a real chance that Hyman's goal-scoring will see an even greater dip this season.
- NHL Sid, OilersNation
With Hyman suffering a wrist injury in the 2025 playoffs, one that is expected to keep him out for the beginning of this regular season as well, there is a real chance that Hyman's goal-scoring will see an even greater dip this season.
- NHL Sid, OilersNation
The Oilers need their powerplay to be a lethal part of their game to fully take advantage of McDavid and Draisaitl's talents, and it saw too much of a dip last year.
Some new talent should be tried on the top unit, and also, McDavid seems to have realized he should shoot more.
Edmonton desperately needs to have a hot start to the upcoming season, and these changes to the power play could provide the offence needed to overpower other teams.
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