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Exactly twelve forwards currently on the team have played in half or more of the games to date. They split nicely into a top and bottom six, with the former group all having played every single game to date, achieving double digits in points in the process. The bottom six are all in single digits, and all of them have spent a little time on the sidelines. Mostly that has been a matter of coach’s decision, with Puljujarvi and Kassian having suffered minor injuries that cost them a few days as opposed to weeks or months, the usual Oiler plight when it comes to the IR. Only depth veteran Matt Hendricks missed a substantial amount of time.

Of course any talk about the Top Six might be better parsed as the Top One and the Next Five, as Connor McDavid towers above not just his teammates but the entire NHL when it comes to scoring. Even afater a scoreless weekend — in which his team nonetheless picked up an encouraging three of four points — McDavid is one of two NHLers on pact for 100+ points, with Sidney Crosby being the other. (Dangerously) Assuming full health for both the rest of the way, current per-game rates put McDavid at 103 points for the season, Crosby at 102. Exciting times ahead, but at this point in time, McDavid is in good position to become the first Oiler since 1990 to cop a major NHL award.

Draisaitl, Eberle and Lucic are in virtual lock-step in the 2-3-4 spots above, all closer to a 60-point pace than to 50. All three have spent time on McDavid’s wing and powerplay unit. In Draisaitl’s case, his 6 powerplay goals already rank as the second-most for any Oiler since 2014, with Eberle’s 7 iun the full 2015-16 campaign being plainly in sight. It would be foolish to project 18 powerplay goals on the season, meaning that “30” under the goals column for Leon is likely a pipe dream. It is however fair to say he has established himself as a legit weapon on the PP, be it in the bumper role or elsewhere. Both he and McDavid are on pace for 27 powerplay points, which would be the most of any Oiler since Ales Hemsky had 31 in 2008-09.