Story Summary
Mike Babcock said he will start the Edmonton Oilers’ season with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together on the top line. Speaking after the first two on-ice sessions of training camp, Babcock said he intends to ” start with the two of them together, for sure,” while leaving the identity of the third forward and the distribution of minutes to be determined as camp progresses.
Babcock framed the early days of camp as a period for coaches and players to learn about one another. He emphasised organisation, playing without the puck and clearly defined roles for 12 forwards.
Key Facts
- Mike Babcock said Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl” will make up two-thirds of the Oilers’ top line” when Edmonton opens the season against the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29.
- Babcock added: ” I’m going to try and start with the two of them together, for sure.”
- Babcock said the third piece on each of the top three lines and exact ice-time allocations ” I don’t know that” and that camp will determine those details.
- Babcock told reporters: ” You guys (media), that’s your job to speculate and come up with these theories, but I don’t have any yet. I’m going to watch them and they’re going to decide, and I think that’s the thing to understand…. They’re going to decide who plays with who and how much each guy plays, not us.”
- Leon Draisaitl described the first practice as ” great” and ” intense,” saying Babcock is ” energetic” and ” wants things done a certain way and he wants them done right.”
- Draisaitl said the group is used to ” flip-flopping” lines and that the team values consistency, while acknowledging the coaching staff makes the final calls.
- Babcock emphasised the importance of structure: ” What I wanted to do is (establish) how we’re going to play without the puck,” adding that playing in Edmonton requires fitness and clearly defined roles for 12 forwards.
- Babcock has 700 regular-season wins, placing him 12th in NHL history, accrued over 17 seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008.
- Babcock coached Canada to Olympic gold medals in 2010 (Vancouver) and 2014 (Sochi).
- Babcock had not run an NHL practice since he was dismissed by the Toronto Maple Leafs 23 games into the 2019-20 season.
- Connor McDavid has had six head coaches in Edmonton since his 2015-16 debut; Leon Draisaitl has had seven head coaches and nine coaches overall since his 2014-15 debut.
IHM Discussion
Babcock’s intention to begin the season with McDavid and Draisaitl together settles a long-running internal debate in Edmonton about whether the Oilers’ two best forwards should be paired or deployed apart to spread elite playmaking across the lineup. By announcing he will ” start with the two of them together,” Babcock gives his coaching staff a baseline: a top line built around two prolific drivers of offence while preserving flexibility during camp to test alternatives.
His repeated emphasis on organisation and playing without the puck signals a return to structure-first coaching. Babcock framed the early sessions as a chance to set standards – fitness, positional awareness and clearly defined roles for what he called a 12-forward group where ” everyone is going to be important.” That emphasis could affect how the Oilers deploy their depth forwards and manage minutes: a coach stressing structure typically demands accountability from every forward, not just star players.
Babcock’s claim that players will ” decide who plays with who and how much each guy plays” is notable phrasing. It suggests he expects in-practice chemistry and players’ own responses in drills and scrimmages to inform line construction rather than a fixed top-down plan. The approach balances a clear starting decision – pairing McDavid and Draisaitl – with an empirical, observation-driven process through training camp.
Why It Matters
How the Oilers handle McDavid and Draisaitl carries direct implications for their scoring balance and depth. Keeping the duo together concentrates elite playmaking and finishing on one line, which can produce a dominant top unit but risks leaving secondary lines without consistent high-end puck possession or scoring drivers. Splitting them has been the alternative strategy to elevate the second line and create more threats across the lineup.
Babcock’s organisational demands and insistence on defined roles aim to address the Oilers’ recent concerns about lapses in detail. If the team can combine elite offensive talent with improved structure without sacrificing McDavid and Draisaitl’s production, Edmonton’s Stanley Cup pursuit – a stated objective Babcock referenced by urging high standards – gains practical credibility.
Training camp and the pre-season, therefore, become consequential: they are where chemistry, defensive habits and role clarity will be evaluated ahead of the season-opening matchup with Vancouver.
Mini Q&A
Will Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl play together to open the season?
Yes. Mike Babcock said he will ” start with the two of them together” and that McDavid and Draisaitl” will make up two-thirds of the Oilers’ top line” for the season opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29.
Who will decide the full forward lines and ice-time?
Babcock said he will use training camp to assess line combinations and ice time, adding: ” I’m going to watch them and they’re going to decide who plays with who and how much each guy plays, not us.” Draisaitl said the coaching staff makes the final calls.
What has Babcock prioritised during the first practices?
He prioritised organisation and how the team will ” play without the puck,” stressing fitness and clearly defined roles for all 12 forwards.
What did Leon Draisaitl say about the new coach’s first day?
Draisaitl called the session ” great” and ” intense,” describing Babcock as ” energetic” and saying ” he wants things done a certain way and he wants them done right.”
What is Babcock’s coaching background?
Babcock has 700 regular-season wins (12th in NHL history), won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 and coached Canada to Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014. He had not run an NHL practice since being dismissed by Toronto 23 games into the 2019-20 season.
When is the Oilers’ season opener?
The Oilers open the regular season against the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29, as stated.
Coach Mark Comment
Starting McDavid and Draisaitl together gives the coach a clear maximum-output baseline to measure everything else against. It’s a practical test: if the top line dominates and the rest of the roster responds with improved structure and role clarity, the pairing can be sustained. If depth lines struggle for possession or goals, splitting the two creates a viable tactical lever to spread playmaking influence.
Babcock emphasising ” playing without the puck” and fitness underlines a defensive-first prescription that won’t suit every forward in the same way. He is right to use camp as an observational lab: practice habits, compete-level in drills and quick, accountable details usually predict which line combinations will survive into October. The coaching challenge will be to balance star usage with team-wide responsibilities so the top end can be elite without masking systemic weak spots.
What Comes Next
Training camp sessions will continue and the Oilers’ decisions about line combinations and ice-time distribution will be shaped by those sessions. Edmonton opens the regular season against the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29; that game will be the first formal checkpoint to see whether Babcock keeps McDavid and Draisaitl together.
IHM Final View
Mike Babcock has chosen a pragmatic starting point by announcing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will begin the season together while reserving finer lineup decisions for training camp. His focus on organisation and defined roles signals a methodical approach that aims to marry elite offensive talent with tighter team structure. How well the rest of the roster adapts during camp will help determine whether keeping the duo intact remains the preferred alignment.