Oilers coach gets called out for ridiculous tactic with lineup early this year
Photo credit: Bob Frid - USA TODAY Sports
According to reports, Kris Knoblauch has attempted 21 different line combinations in Edmonton's first eight games of the season, for which the coach has been often criticized by fans and analysts.
Oilers' roster has huge turnover from last year's edition
For the 2025-26 season, the Oilers added several new players to the lineup, including Andrew Mangiapane, Ike Howard, David Tomasek, Vasily Podkolzin, Trent Frederic, Jake Walman, Troy Stecher, Jack Roslovic, and Curtis Lazar, while no fewer than ten left the team.
To find the right balance, the head coach has attempted 21 line combinations, a chemistry that has sometimes been illusive on some of Knoblauch's attempts to get it right.
At the centre of the line changes has been the question of whether McDavid and Draisaitl should play together, or on separate lines.
The stats speak for themselves, however. According to reports, with the two superstars on the ice at 5v5, they've outscored the opposition 2-1, with a very good 57.6% shot attempt share, 65.2% of the xG share, 54.2% of the scoring chance share and 80% of the high-danger scoring chances share.
When not on the ice, the Oilers have been outscored 9-6, and have been out-chanced and out-played by a significant margin.
In the recent win against the Canadiens, Knoblauch again played McDavid and Draisaitl, to questionable results. When he finally decided to separate the two centres, the Oilers overwhelmed the Canadiens, leading to Edmonton's three-goal comeback.
We'll go with our lines that we finished in the game with Connor and Leon playing centre,» Knoblauch said after the Montreal game.
The Oilers are a much more dangerous team when McDavid and Draisaitl are on separate lines.
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