One of Dave Tippett's biggest lineup decisions as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers will revolve around his two star players: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
During Tippett's introductory press conference Tuesday, he was asked whether he'll pair them together on the same line.
"Together it seems like they feed off each other," Tippett told reporters.
Tippett recalled his time as an assistant with Team North America during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The coaching staff decided to try Auston Matthews - who had yet to play an NHL game - on McDavid's wing. Tippett described Matthews as "an unbelievable compliment" to McDavid.
"I see Draisaitl a little bit in that same vein as Matthews," Tippett said. "Real solid, great plays, Connor can give-and-go with him, and then basically, Draisaitl shoots when he gets a chance.
"That's something that sticks out in my mind, but with that being said, I'm not stuck on that."
Here's a look at how McDavid and Draisaitl fared together, and away from each other, at five-on-five this past season, according to Natural Stat Trick:
| Scenario | TOI | CF% | GF% | xGF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDavid & Draisaitl | 805:37 | 50.74 | 56.44 | 50.28 |
| McDavid w/o Draisaitl | 557:01 | 48.79 | 39.22 | 45.84 |
| Draisaitl w/o McDavid | 572:19 | 44.60 | 36.96 | 44.99 |
TOI = Time on ice
CF% = Shot attempt share
GF% = Goals share
xGF% = Expected goals share
There's no denying that McDavid and Draisaitl are dynamic together, but pairing Edmonton's two highest-paid players on the same line could leave Tippett with a lack of depth for his remaining forward trios.
McDavid and Draisaitl finished second and fourth, respectively, in the league in points this past season, but the Oilers still finished 11 points out of a playoff spot.
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