So no McDavid, Neal, Nygård, or Kassian; on a team that already lacked depth...
So how do they make this work? My preference for the lines behind the top one.
Benson-Haas-Gagner
Granlund-Sheahan-Archibald
Khaira-Cave-Chiasson
Our whole top line is gone.
I've been cautiously optimistic to this point but gotta say this is bleak.
Every game from now till post season are "the most important" but these two games in the South really are.
The next 7 games "could" make or break the Oilers and I can't realistically expect them to win many/any of them.
I don't blame Holland for not getting help. The team has been too inconsistent and their current situation shows how they need cost controlled drafted help/depth badly.
I can't blame Kassian even tho his suspension is a big part of the Oilers desperation. It was a stupid mistake but one I believe was blown out of proportion and unfortunately part of the package for this type of player. Kassian is no Marchand but there's another example of a player that misses significant time due to suspension that you just have to accept the good with the bad.
Back to topic. There is no line combination that matters.
Keep Archibald and Sheahan together and manage their ice time as best you can with keeping a back to back scenario in mind.
I do not like the way Tippett overplays his guys but... I don't know how you get away from playing the top line over 25 minutes, Archibald and Sheahan over 18 and the rest with whatever you can do to limit scoring chances against.
It's really ugly.