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While Strudwick is right that as a general rule you want attackers on their off-wings, it’s worth noting that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a left shot, has played almost all of the year on the left half-wall on the power play, and he’s the one Oilers player who has improved his contributions to scoring chances on the power play this year. It’s also worth noting that if we go back even as far as the 2017 playoffs and the first 49 goals this year, McDavid has scored plenty of fine goals coming down left wing or off the left half-wall. In some ways, he seems more comfortable shooting from there.

The common denominator on all those goals, of course, is that McDavd isn’t static, he’s on the move like Sundance. I am convinced that no one has a good idea of how to unleash McDavid on the power play right now, but my own hunch is the best bet is to let him free-lance, let him move, pass and shoot. Don’t give him a prime shooter spot on the left or right half-wall. That’s not going to work, it’s safe to say. Put better shooters on those half-walls, Draisaitl, Puljujarvi, Mike Cammalleri, maybe Ryan Strome. Have McDavid either at the point and on the move, or in the bumper position in the middle of the ice and on the move, looking to either skate and shoot or to and up Draisaitl or Puljujarvi. Or maybe put him down low in Wayne Gretzky’s old office, another area where he can wheel and deal and set up the designated gunners, Draisaitl and Puljujarvi. As for who else should play on the top power play unit, it’s a good idea right now to bump up Patrick Maroon’s trade value, and he’s also a bit better at puck retrieval than Milan Lucic, so maybe go with Maroon at net front. At the point, Darnell Nurse or Oscar Klefbom will have to do for now. Maybe one of the two will grab hold of that role, something that Klefbom looked ready to do in the last part of last season.

Staples on the city

City council getting it right on making Jasper Ave. more pedestrian friendly and on trying to save City Hall wading pool

Photo by Codie McLachlan / Codie McLachlan/Edmonton Sun

At the Cult

McCURDY: McDavid battling to keep up to expectations

STAPLES: Cam Talbot & Brian Lawton see reasons for optimism

STAPLES: For Oilers, less of Lucic is more for the team

LEAVINS: What do the Oilers have in Strome and Khaira? Time to find out