A week ago I would have been begging to flip Nuge and Kane to give each of those guys a different look to get out of their funks. However, right at the moment the top line starts to play like absolute ass, Kane starts to come alive on the second line. So now you don't want to mess with it again.
Nuge has to get the pace back in his game. He's been incredibly deferential and isn't going to the middle of the ice at all. On the power play game winner against the Ducks he was finally playing an assertive style, cutting hard to the middle of the ice, not delaying, making plays quickly. I had almost forgotten what that looked like. Tonight he was right back to holding the puck on the high wall and softly turning it over.
I agree with some of your thinking. Though it's interesting to look at this year's production sliced up and with a bit of historical context.
Definitely agree that Nuge needs to show shot more on the PP which isn't as consistently excellent. Line 1 which has been among the league's best has shifted goals to Hyman whose #'s & shooting % are trending career high.
It's also interesting to look at Draisaitl's numbers. His EV goal scoring numbers are pretty average and he also had a stretch with McDavid which I'd be curious to see how his EV production numbers are as a finishing winger. Would like to see Drai get/take more shots at 2C. He's a one-time scorer who thrives on speed of release which inhibits accuracy though he's top PP finisher when deployed at wing. Overall his elite shooting percentage has dipped abit from the past two seasons. Kane, through injury has delivered EV goal production and essentially all EV production.
EV goals: McDavid 26; Hyman 22; Draisaitl 13; Nugent Hopkins 9; Kane 16
PP goals: McDavid 5; Hyman 9; Draisaitl 11; Nugent Hopkins 3; Kane 2
EV points: McDavid 45; Hyman 35; Draisaitl 37; Nuge 27; Kane 27
PP points: McDavid 26; Hyman 13; Draisaitl 23; Nuge 17; Kane 5
Shooting %: McDavid 13.4%; Hyman 18.1%; Draisaitl 17.9%; Nuge 10.3%; Kane 12.4%
Last season %: McDavid 18.2%; Hyman 13%; Draisaitl 21.1%; Nuge 18.4%; Kane 11%
2 seasons %: McDavid 14%; Hyman 12.7%; Draisaitl 19.8%; Nuge 7.1%; Kane 14.5%
If/when/as the Oil start to regress back to a more realistic winning percentage with harder schedule and competition it might be worth some line juggling to move Nuge to support Draisaitl's power centre game with a guy who can help get Draisaitl more shooting and finishing opportunities. McDavid drives everyone's production so maybe Kane can twirl at top left wing especially if he's more healthy.
Power play needs to be faster in its execution which is obvious when McDavid takes over grabbing the puck and circling trying to draw defenders out of their defending structure but also to get his own teammates moving who can lapse into slow, methodical puck movement turning their back away with little turns toward the blue line (a tendency of both Draisaitl and Nugent Hopkins). Nuge needs to show shot more to force defending him - why I like him taking the puck to middle ice slot. Early shot attempts with Bouch bomb also helps to disrupt stacked home plate defending.