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The Edmonton Oilers are preparing for an extremely pivotal 2025-26 season.
Not only are they looking to exact revenge for back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Finals, but they're also trying to prove to captain Connor McDavid that they can get over the hump and win a championship.
Pressure is at an all-time high in Edmonton, especially if McDavid starts the season without an extension in place, which all signs are pointing to as of right now.
We've seen the Oilers come out of the gates slowly to start in recent years, but they can ill afford to do so this season, and head coach Kris Knoblauch knows that. As a result, the bench boss will be turning to the two-headed monster combination of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line from the jump.
Reporter Jason Gregor shared some of Knoblauch's comments on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the decision to pair up his two superstars.
"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 ice time that is available; when those two are playing 21 and 22 minutes (on their own line), there isn't much ice time left for the third and fourth lines, and often they feel left out," Knoblauch said.
"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," Knoblauch added.
Knoblauch explains his decision to start the season with McDavid and Draisaitl on the same line.
"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…
Recently acquired forward Trent Frederic will complete the trio, expected to man the right wing, while Draisaitl handles the left, and McDavid is in the middle.
Edmonton's depth must step up
If the Edmonton Oilers are going to load up the top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they'll need the rest of the lineup to elevate their game and provide some production.
Zach Hyman won't be ready until at least November, giving even more opportunity for players to earn more ice time.
Vasily Podkolzin, Andrew Mangiapane, Isaac Howard, and Matt Savoie are the four to keep an eye on that the Oilers will be relying on as soon as the puck drops on opening night.
It's a forward group that has some question marks, but if a few of these depth pieces go above and beyond what they're asked, Edmonton will be in business to start the season, because you already know what McDavid and Draisaitl are going to give you every single night.
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