‘I don’t have a clue’: Babcock latest to experiment with Oilers’ top-line shuffle

EDMONTON — The ol’ top line switcheroo has become a staple of Edmonton Oilers hockey.

For years now, coaches have either started Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on separate lines, then put them together to gain a spark in a game that’s not going Edmonton’s way. Or, they start them on the same line, but get forced to separate the two superstars when it becomes clear that the rest of the lineup can’t score enough to carry its weight.

Enter Mike Babcock, who has had the two on the same line throughout training camp.

We asked him if he has a productive enough second line to hold fast on the McDavid-and-Draisaitl-on-the-same-line thing.

“I like our third line to be productive, and I like our fourth line to be productive,” was his retort. “Now, productive the way you’re talking about it, is just the numbers on the sheet. That doesn’t matter as much to me. What matters to me is, did we wear out the other team? Did we play right? Did we come after you? Were we organized? And do we have a chance to win in the long term?”

Right now, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is setting up as Edmonton’s 2C, on a line with Zach Hyman and Ike Howard. Howard’s spot on that line will still have to be earned, but Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman are top-six forwards all day long.

But can RNH still drive a line after playing mostly on the wing over the past couple of seasons?

“The past couple years, I’d say mostly I played wing,” he agreed. “But I’m always more comfortable (at centre). It’s easier for me to jump back into that centre spot.”

Nugent-Hopkins had 20 goals and 56 points last season, but only 9-17-26 at even strength over 72 games. Hyman is still one of the game’s premier forwards down low. But he benefits from defenders becoming consumed with McDavid, while Hyman cleans up the leftovers to the tune of 35 goals per season.

Can Hyman be Hyman without McDavid? Can Nugent-Hopkins drive a line as he enters his 33-year-old season?

“We need to be able to produce and play well with the puck,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Just control it, and not have to worry about the defensive side of things too much.

“There definitely is some emphasis on us to be able to produce and just make sure that we’re a really good and solid second line.”

Babcock appears to come from the school where playing McDavid and Draisaitl together opens up more opportunity for everyone else. It does align with his oft-spoken goal of “making everyone in the lineup feel important.”

“You can play them together, and then everyone else gets to play because there’s enough ice time to go around. If you play them apart, and the top two lines play 20 minutes, what do the other guys do?” he asked. “You’re speculating on what I’m going to do. I’m telling you right now, I don’t have a clue what I’m going to do. I’m going to watch.”

Our take: If Nugent-Hopkins can’t find a way to get the most out of Hyman and be far more of an even-strength producer than he’s been while averaging 11 goals and 30 points at evens over the past three seasons, general manager Stan Bowman will find himself in the market for a second-line centre at the deadline.

Nugent-Hopkins is still an excellent player, he just may not be an effective 2C under this alignment. He can shift to left wing, and on a line with Hyman and an acquired centre who can drive his own line, the Oilers’ top six will be as good as anyone’s heading into the post-season.

In the meantime, Babcock will push Nugent-Hopkins to re-establish himself a bit this season.

“The problem is, if you play with Connor and you’re being careful all the time and you’re watching, then you don’t look like the player you are. I don’t want him to play like that. I want him to play full out and get after it,” Babcock said. “Nuge is going to be a massive part of things here. He’s beyond smart, maybe the best man in the middle on the power play in the National Hockey League, and he knows how to play with and without the puck. Important piece for us and a good leader.”

Here are the NHL lines at practice Monday. Of note, Mattias Ekholm was back on a pairing with Evan Bouchard.

Draisaitl-McDavid-Podkolzin
Howard-RNH-Hyman
Frederic-Dickinson-Kapanen
Formenton-Dach-Joseph
Jones-Samanski

Ekholm-Bouchard
Walman-Murphy
Shea-Mukhamadullin
Stastney-Emberson

Babcock on his fourth line of Colton Dach between Mathieu Joseph and Alex Formenton:

“Their line was the best line (in Saturday’s game), and they were the best line just there in practice. Their No. 1 thing is they all know they’re kind of in that survival mode in their careers, so they’re out there competing.

“(Dach) is big. He runs over people. Seems to know how to skate. Stops on defence. Forchecks. Coachable. Looks good to me …”

Nugent-Hopkins on enjoying his 11th head coach during his time as an Oiler:

“I’ve had a few different ones now, so I am used to getting to know different coaches throughout my years,” he said. “(Babcock) is definitely a faster pace. Even the meetings — everything’s quick and to the point. And (as you get) older in this league, you want things to be quick. You want things to be clear. You don’t want the grey area, and that’s what he’s great at.”