from Michael Traikos of the National Post,

I know the temptation would be to send Lafreniere out with Connor McDavid and just sit back and watch the highlight show unfold. But I’ve liked how Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has given McDavid’s line more of a defensive presence in this post-season. And with the undersized Kailer Yamamoto having found a full-time role on Draisaitl’s right side, the left side could use someone with Lafreniere’s size and grit.

Then again, maybe you do what the Penguins did when they won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel on separate lines, and split up the big three. Putting Lafreniere on a third line with Riley Sheahan would give Edmonton more forward depth than it has had in a long time.

Honestly, the possibilities are endless. They are also a bit nauseating.

This is not what Oilers fans want to be thinking about as they head into a must-win Game 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. They don’t want to be thinking of Lafreniere and what line he might fit best on. They don’t want to be considering another No. 1 overall pick, another season of missing the actual playoffs, another year of failure.

All of that is quickly becoming the reality after Edmonton blew a one-goal lead and lost Game 3 to Chicago on Wednesday. They now trail the Blackhawks 2-1 in their best-of-five qualification round series.

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