Which Edmonton Oilers players should be on McDavid's line next season?
All eyes will be on Connor McDavid when the Edmonton Oilers open up their season in September.
The Oilers captain is entering the first season of a two-year deal that he inked back in October and will be eligible to re-sign with Edmonton in the summer of 2027. However, there is growing anxiety in the Alberta capital that McDavid may choose not to re-sign with the Oilers unless the team takes a massive step forward this year.
That will amp up the pressure for the team to perform this season, and it will start with the top of the lineup.
With Mike Babcock coming in as Edmonton’s new head coach, there are likely to be some critical changes made throughout the lineup. The Oilers will have to cope with the departure of players like Darnell Nurse and Jack Roslovic, while also managing a three-goalie tandem with Tristan Jarry, Frederik Andersen, and Devon Levi.
One of the more interesting decisions that needs to be made throughout training camp is who else will occupy the Oilers’ top line beside McDavid. Zach Hyman seems to be a lock to stick on 97’s right wing headed into the season, but there is an apparent spot up for grabs on the left wing.
Who are some possible candidates to fill in that spot? Let’s take a look…
Leon Draisaitl
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Leon Draisaitl has been spending a lot of time centering Edmonton’s second line, but has occasionally jumped up to play on the wing next to McDavid.
The duo of McDavid and Draisaitl has proven to be among the league’s deadliest, and it would make sense that Babcock would want to keep these two together whenever he can. But it might come at the detriment of the rest of the team.
Having those two superstars on separate lines makes it more difficult for teams to plan against, and it also spreads the offence throughout the top-six. Having Draisaitl play on McDavid’s line likely forces Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to slide in as 2C, even though he’s likely better served as a winger at this point in his career.
Still, no Oilers coach has been able to resist the allure of playing these two together at some point. Will Babcock be any different?
Matt Savoie
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Matt Savoie found a home on McDavid’s left wing at the end of last season heading into the playoffs, and he’ll likely get another shot there in training camp.
Things started off slow for the 22-year-old, but he really hit his stride in the second half of the season. That improved play earned him a promotion onto McDavid’s right wing, where he looked comfortable, despite the production falling off in the playoffs.
Savoie is precisely the type of productive young player that the Oilers desperately need to take that next step, and there would be no better place for him to do that than next to McDavid on the top line.
The former first-round pick will need to put in an impressive camp if he wants to stick next to the Oilers captain.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
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If all else fails, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could easily reassume his top-line role next to McDavid.
At this point in his career, it feels like RNH may be better suited to fall into a depth role, potentially on the team’s third line next to Jason Dickinson. Nugent-Hopkins’ production is still decent despite hitting his mid-30s, meaning he’d likely still perform just fine in a top-line role.
There is also some built-in chemistry between him, McDavid, and Hyman. Still, his sliding down the lineup could give the Oilers some much-needed depth in the bottom-six.
Nugent-Hopkins is the safe option for the Oilers, and will likely spend at least part of the season playing on the top line.
Isaac Howard
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Isaac Howard could be the biggest wildcard when Oilers training camp opens in September.
The skill is undeniable, and he is coming off a very impressive first pro season where he put up 24 goals and 50 points in 47 AHL games. Howard was less impressive in the NHL this past season with just two goals and five points in 29 games, but that might change now that he has one year under his belt and with a better opportunity.
It sounds like Babcock is open to giving Howard a legitimate chance to stick in the Oilers’ top-six this coming season, but he will need to show well during training camp to earn that opportunity.
He’s certainly got a deadly shot and has a knack for getting open, which are two attributes that should pay off big while playing next to a player like McDavid.