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.

It has become uncomfortable, this whole Jeff Skinner thing here in Edmonton. He’s being asked to make a mid-season adjustment to a role that, frankly, he may not be equipped to execute.

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.

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.

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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

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.

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.

One player who still lacks a defined role and purpose is the summertime acquisition, Jeff Skinner. A six-time 30-goal scorer, Skinner has not consistently contributed his talents to the Oilers roster.