3. Ryan McLeod
Ryan McLeod is doing a lot for the Oilers and that is worth mentioning right now. In the last five games, he is second in face-off wins with 25 in the last five at even strength. That number is behind only Leon Draisaitl who has 31 five-on-five face-off wins. The only issue for McLeod is he is not scoring enough goals and he is coughing up the puck a bit too much.
Tyson Barrie and McLeod lead the team with six giveaways at even strength in the past five games. That is not a stat anyone wants to lead in right now. McLeod has also been hit eight times and that is a theme in the bottom six as Foegele has been hit ten times.
McLeod has some size at 6’2″, I think the 22-year-old forward is still trying to get used to the NHL game. Most of his issues can be solved by being smarter with the puck and shooting more when given the opportunity. He has four shots on goal in the last five games and has 14 shots on the season, if he were to shoot more he is going to create some offence for the team which is all the team really needs from him at this time.
Bumping Kailer Yamamoto to his line alongside Warren Foegele gives the team a really good third line that can hopefully generate some offence and energy for the team, it also gives Zack Kassian a chance to play in the top six, which brings me to another top-six forward that needs to step up.