Oilers analyst has issue with Coach Knoblauch's new McDavid strategy

We've had this debate ad nauseum in this city," analyst Mark Spector said. "Whether they're a better team with them [McDavid and Draisaitl] apart, a better team with them together...He [Knoblauch] had some comments yesterday about how there's gonna be more ice-time if they're together, not apart.

History has told us when they get behind, you know, the 3rd-period starts and you're down 4-2, there isn't any ice-time for the 3rd and 4th-line, barely.

- Mark Spector

Personally, I think the Oilers are a better team when McDavid and Draisaitl centre their own lines, but for one month to increase your chances of a good start, I understand Knoblauch's plan.

When they are playing together, you get a lot more out of the rest of the three lines," Knoblauch said recently. "That might sound a bit ironic, but the others get more ice time than is available when those two are playing 21 and 22 minutes (when playing on their own line), there isn't much ice time left for the third and fourth lines and often they feel left out.

But with Connor and Leon playing together, it allows those three lines to stay in the game, play their regular shift more often and they also get to play more to their identity. If you have a guy who maybe isn't a top-six guy, but he is playing with Leon or Connor, you kind of have to play to a top-six line identity, even if that isn't part of their game.

- Kris Knoblauch