Oilers Knoblauch put struggling rookie on top line ahead of match vs Canadiens

There is no secret that the Edmonton Oilers have had struggles to produce offence throughout the first month of the 2025-26 National Hockey League season.

Their depth has been slow to start the year and with captain Connor McDavid only just potting his first goal of the season last game against the Ottawa Senators, it is indicative of a larger issue.

It seems that in an effort to light a spark under the team and certain players and of course while navigating the tireless injury bug that is plaguing Edmonton. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has shuffled his lines around a bit ahead of their Thursday night match against the Montreal Canadiens.

Oilers debut new lines

During the team's morning skate before their match against the Canadiens, Oilers commentator Bob Stauffer posted the lines that the team appears to be going with on X. Knoblauch has been tinkering with different line combinations to try to get the team going early on this season as the Oilers currently hold a 3-3-1 record.

The Oilers top rookies in Matt Savoie and Ike Howard have struggled to begin the year, scoring two points through a combined 13 games so far this season. Savoie has been used on a few different lines throughout the middle-six but now will be given a chance to skate alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the first line.

Entering the year, there were high hopes for the 21 year old after a tremendous rookie professional season with the Oilers American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. There he scored 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points in 66 games as a 20 year old. He was also given a cup of coffee with the Oilers playing four games and registering his first career point, an assist.

Matt Savoie can turn it around

Despite his lack of production, Savoie has not been bad in the early stretch of the year at 5-on-5. He has a higher on-ice corsi for per 60 minutes than players like Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic and he sits fifth amongst Oilers forwards in expected goals for per 60 minutes (according to evolving-hockey.com).

Generating both shot attempts and quality chances can be an indicator of future performance and if a player is doing those while not scoring, it usually means that he is having poor shooting luck. Given his on-ice shooting percentage is the lowest on the Oilers, it indicates he is due for a positive regression.

This could come tonight alongside the Oilers biggest stars, assuming Knoblauch keeps the trio together for the entire game.