With just as many healthy scratches as goals (five) between Oct. 19 and Jan 23 (42 games), he wasn’t exactly grabbing that second line scoring winger position by the throat.

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.

The Edmonton Oilers are playing the second half of a back to back against the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, and Coach Knoblauch is taking the opportunity to majorly mix up the lines.

Jeff Skinner hasn't been as snug a fit on the Edmonton Oilers as initially thought, but he did earn praise recently.

How far down the Oilers' pecking order has Skinner dropped? He played 13:34 in Thursday's 6-2 win over Vancouver − and that was his biggest ice time total since Dec. 3.

After another slow start to the season, the Edmonton Oilers have once again climbed their way to the top of the Pacific division, with eyes set on another deep playoff run with the ultimate goal of winning it all.

Skinner assisted on Draisaitl's league-leading 38th goal while putting his 10th of the year past netminder Arvid Soderblom. After the game, head coach Kris Knoblauch was asked about his game and he did not hold back his praise.