Oilers: Who should be the third line centermen this coming season?

Outside of the goaltending situation for the Edmonton Oilers one major question surrounding this team is their third-line center.

The addition of Warren Foegele helps the third line, but who centers that lineup is still something that needs to be answered. Personally, I think there are a few different candidates that Dave Tippett could use throughout the season with the Edmonton Oilers so let’s talk about it.

The first option is probably the most obvious: Ryan McLeod. McLeod in my opinion seems like the clear candidate to start the season on the third line, but his limited experience probably will keep him out of the lineup at times or could change things for the prospect.

A line is only as good as its center. That is why a pretty good candidate in my opinion might be Devin Shore. Shore put up pretty good numbers with the team last season, and he already has experience on the roster. Shore can win faceoffs and will definitely provide some stability.

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Shore’s analytics really are not that great. Kyle Turris and Derek Ryan both could fit the bill on the third line, but really the best option would be Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. I hope that the team decides to give him his own line to really help spread things amongst three different lines.

Nugent-Hopkins would be a little overpriced for a third-liner, but he would be one of the best available for the team considering a lot of the third-line options are not that dominant in the offensive zone.

I think most of these players named will all get a chance at some time on the third line. It is just a matter of finding the one that works the most. Ryan McLeod is the obvious answer to begin the season but considering he only has played ten games in the NHL during the regular season and an additional four in the playoffs. It might be best to take it slow and not push him in that quickly.

Which of the options do you expect to see on the third line next season the most? Let us know in the comments!