Mike Babcock says Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will start Oilers season on same line vs. Canucks

EDMONTON -- Mike Babcock will begin his first NHL training camp as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers with a clear plan for the team’s top group. Following the first two on-ice sessions, Babcock said he intends to start with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together to form two-thirds of the Oilers’ top line when Edmonton opens its season.

Babcock said the Oilers will play McDavid and Draisaitl together as part of that top-line setup for their season opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29. He also said he does not yet know the identity of the third forward piece on each of the team’s top lines, noting that the final lineup will be determined as camp progresses and based on health considerations.

The decision to pair McDavid and Draisaitl has been a recurring topic across Edmonton’s coaching history. Babcock framed his approach as an observation period, adding that he expects the players themselves to determine how much each forward plays together and with whom, rather than committing fully to a fixed arrangement immediately.

Babcock also described the early camp focus as setting standards for how Edmonton will play. He said the emphasis would be on playing “without the puck,” tying it to fitness and roles for a 12-forward structure, and he stressed organization as a core to execution. The Oilers have not won the Stanley Cup since 1990, and Babcock said establishing expectations early is part of the team’s pursuit of that goal.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk