This week on Frozen Tool Forensics we are going to focus on some preseason storylines. Preseason is an interesting time with wild line combinations, players out of the lineup, random depth players scoring big in preseason games, and players being sent back to the minors. We are going to try sifting through some of the noise to help evaluate players heading into our drafts.

To do this we will be looking at Player Profile pages, digging into line combinations, and looking at Dobber Reports for preseason games.

First up, let's look at the Edmonton Oilers. Going into camp we had a Zach Hyman injury, as well as the departures of Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner opening some opportunity for top six skaters. That void created opportunities for Mathew Savoie, Isaac Howard, and Andrew Mangiapane. What we know now is that Hyman is likely out until November, and that the goal is to run Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together until that point. That significantly reduces the fantasy relevant opportunity in Edmonton. Coaching reports, practice lines, and the game in Seattle on September 24th indicate that the third wheel opportunity will go to none of the above, but to Trent Frederic. Howard and Savoie have both gotten turns playing with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on a second line, with Mangiapane on what might be a third line, but those groupings are still very much in flux. For what it's worth Frederic saw almost 19 minutes of time in that preseason game, with some power-play opportunity as well. He remains vaguely interesting given that deployment, but so much is likely to change there he isn't more than a late round streamer at best.

Over in Winnipeg we have the departure of Nikolaj Ehlers and the addition of Jonathan Toews to review. Ehlers' departure left a hole on the second line and on the top power-play. Summer speculation was that Cole Perfetti would fill that top power-play role. We do have more clarity here as Perfetti has indeed been lining up on that top power play in practice, but we don't have a full NHL-ish squad preseason game as another data point yet. Perfetti has also been on that second line very consistently paired with Toews. The implication seems to be that we have a top power play, second line Perfetti and a second line, second power play Toews. Overall, it seems like a decent spot for Perfetti, who while losing out an elite winger in Ehlers has replaced him with Toews (who is a big question mark) and gotten the top power play. It certainly makes Perfetti more interesting, though we might not see as big a bump if the line performs a little worse at even strength.

That makes an easy transition over to Carolina where Ehlers has settled in consistently with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis on the top line. He and Andrei Svechnikov have also been lining up on the top power play as well. That has been true both at practice and in preseason games so it seems pretty likely this is the expected lineup to at least start the season. Carolina does like to play with lines, but they appear to be giving Ehlers top deployment to start.

Over on Long Island we have the departure of Noah Dobson and the arrival of Jonathan Drouin to consider. Add to that the injury to Anders Lee and we have a bit of a different look on the power play. The summer speculation was that Drouin would join that top unit, which would be quarterbacked by Tony DeAngelo. That appears to be essentially what is happening. Drouin, DeAngelo, Bo Horvat, and Matthew Barzal have been the clearest consistent NHL ready power-play we have seen in practice. Lee was also featured on that unit, but with his injury Kyle Palmieri has been given a chance. We have not seen that unit in any preseason action recently, but that is because the recent preseason games to date have not had the full complement of NHL players on it. At even strength Drouin is also skating with Horvat and newcomer Maxim Shabanov. Shabanov is 24 and transitioning from the KHL where he has had some recent success. That path has resulted in successful NHL seasons in the past (Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin), but we also have examples of less successful transitions (Evgenii Dadanov), and in fact the Islanders brought over Maxim Tsyplakov last season who managed a 37-point pace. All things considered, this new top line is very interesting, but there are a lot of question marks. Tony DeAngelo does make for a good swing late in a draft though. His performance is by no means guaranteed, but he has shown he can successfully quarterback a top power play before.

Burying the lead a little, the biggest news of the off season was Mitch Marner to Las Vegas. This one isn't too surprising. The speculation was that he would be lining up on the top line and top power play with Jack Eichel. Lo and behold that does seem to be the intention, though with Eichel missing a day or two of practice, and Vegas not sending that group to their most recent preseason game we don't have as much confirmation as we might like. For what it's worth, it seems like Ivan Barbashev has the inside track to that third wheel, and they might be splitting up Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone at even strength. This situation will probably change over the course of time, but it does introduce a little bit of a question for Hertl and Stone.

Finally, we are going to check in on the big move of last season, Mikko Rantanen. In Dallas, Rantanen has been clearly on a top line and the top power play. The line mates at even strength have shifted a bit though. He started with Wyatt Johnston for a couple of days but recently has been with Roope Hintz consistently. For the most part Jason Robertson has been lining up on the other wing. Even if Johnston does miss out on Rantanen at even strength he does seem to be getting looks on the top power play.

In Colorado we also have the return of Gabriel Landeskog to consider. Martin Necas seems to be continuing in Rantanen's place with his role as Nathan MacKinnon linemate at even strength and on the power play. The question was where Landeskog was going to slot in. So far it has been on the second line with Brock Nelson and on the second power play. Necas, MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar, and Valeri Nuchushkin have been that top unit. It might not be set in stone though as both Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen have been there in the past and might get a shot at some point as well.

That is all for this week.

Do your part to support organizations working to make hockey for everyone.

Professional Women's Hockey League

Hockey is For Everyone

Black Girl Hockey Club

Athletes for Hope