This in from Tony Brar of Oilers TV, the new lines and d-man pairings for the Edmonton Oilers at their Friday morning skate, with a number of rookies taking on more prominent roles, namely Noah Philp at centre on coach Kris Knoblauch’s top checking line with Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic, and Alec Regula now partnered with minute muncher Darnell Nurse.

My take

1. Noah Philp has yet to shine except in brief moments this season, but I’m glad to see him promoted to play on the top checking line nonetheless, and even if it means moving fellow rookie Matt Savoie down to the fourth line with rookies David Tomasek and Ike Howard.

Simply put, Philp is bigger and more able to impose himself physically and defensively on the game than Savoie, and Savoie has yet to do enough on the attack to

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