Oilers coach reveals new linemates for Connor McDavid to start this season
Photo credit: Jamie Sabau - Imagn Images
The Edmonton Oilers will go back to loading up Connor McDavid with Leon Draisaitl to start the upcoming season, with Trent Frederic playing right wing.
It's a surprise to see the Oilers turn to what's known as «the nuclear option» just to start the season. However, the beginning of this season is critical with McDavid unsigned, Hyman injured, and after the slow starts of the last 2 years.
Oilers will unite Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on first line to begin season with Zach Hyman out
According to a new report from Oilers insider Jason Gregor, Coach Knoblauch revealed his new plan for the forwards and where he envisions players battling for roster spots.
While this may just be a temporary fix while Zach Hyman is sidelined with injury, Coach Knoblauch seemed to indicate this could be a longer-term plan.
Oilers coach explains decision to keep McDavid and Draisaitl together
The Oilers coach believes that pairing the superstars together allows the depth players to play more to their skillsets, and actually gives them more time on the ice.
When they are playing together you get a lot more out of the rest of the three lines. That might sound a bit ironic, but the others get more icetime that is available when those two are playing 21 and 22 minutes, there isn't much icetime 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.
By playing Connor and Leon together the other guys play to their identity and maybe you get more out of them. We saw it last year with Nugent-Hopkins when he was playing with Podkolzin and Arvidsson.
- Coach Knoblauch
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.
By playing Connor and Leon together the other guys play to their identity and maybe you get more out of them. We saw it last year with Nugent-Hopkins when he was playing with Podkolzin and Arvidsson.
- Coach Knoblauch
The debate of uniting or splitting McDavid and Draisaitl has raged on for the Oilers through multiple coaches and GMs. Coach Knoblauch appears to have taken his stance, and in the playoffs, it's likely we see the two superstars together again.
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