The Edmonton Oilers took to the ice for practice today with an adjusted lineup after losing Connor McDavid to suspension, where once again, Skinner has been bumped to the fourth line.

This in from Bob Stauffer of the Oilers radio network, the lines from today’s Edmonton Oilers practice that show Jeff Skinner has yet again been bumped down the line-up: Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Arvidsson Hyman-Henrique-Perry Janmark-RNH-Brown J.

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that Jeff Skinner will remain a healthy scratch, and the team will use 11 forwards and 7 defence for today's game against the Los Angeles Kings.

EDMONTON — It has become uncomfortable, this whole Jeff Skinner thing here in Edmonton ... to being a good third-line player. Take Corey Perry. A former 50-goal man and Hart Trophy winner ...

Hart Winner Leon Draisaitl is ridiculous pic.twitter.com/ToWCTxSkC0 The only thing I disliked about Leon Draisaitl’s performance last night is that more people out east probably didn’t stay up to watch it.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Edmonton Oilers center Jeff Skinner, center, struggles to control the ... collects the puck as Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry pursues in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Denver.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two goals to help the Edmonton Oilers beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2. Edmonton improved to 21-6-1 in its last 28 games.

Goaltender Logan Thompson made 30 saves & recorded an assist for the league-leading Capitals on Tuesday night in a 3-2 victory over the Oilers at Rogers Place

Leon Draisaitl continued his MVP-type season with a three-point game. Zach Hyman buried two and could have had four. Calvin Pickard was strong early. And Corey Perry was in full-worm form with a highly effective, agitating display.

With Ryan on waivers, fellow U of A alum Noah Philp will take on a full-time role as fourth-line centre, while Corey Perry, Kasperi Kapanen, and Jeff Skinner continue to rotate on and off his wings for the time being. If he clears waivers, Ryan will provide invaluable experience to the youngsters in Bakersfield.

The difference in the game was great goaltending from Washington’s Logan Thompson — who was strangely left off of the Team Canada roster — and the fact that the Edmonton power play without McDavid was anemic, with not one Grade A shot in three opportunities.

He also endured a few rocky seasons with the Sabres that ended in him being bought out. In his first year with the Edmonton Oilers, he’s gone from a high-profile free-agent signee to someone struggling to get into the lineup.