Choosing Connor McDavid ’s linemates can get an Edmonton Oilers coach in trouble. The August 2020 decision to place Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on McDavid’s wing still echoes among fans who were convinced Nugent-Hopkins was most effective on a line with Leon Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto . That trio smoked the opposition from January 2020 to the shutdown from the pandemic.
Advertisement Coach Kris Knoblauch may face some pushback from fans this fall if he decides to break up the current No. 1 line. Ironically, McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins are together on the line, with relentless goal scorer Zach Hyman a vital member of the trio.
On the other hand, many fans would like to see new arrival Jeff Skinner on the top line with the captain. Skinner is a volume shooter and a player who is perfectly suited as the finisher on a high-octane scoring line. Is Skinner and Hyman a better option than Nugent-Hopkins with Hyman? Let’s have a look.
McDavid scoring with current teammates Over the past three seasons, McDavid has enjoyed great success with several linemates. Here are his scoring numbers in those seasons. All numbers five-on-five This should come as no surprise.
The captain can score with any linemate. He has made millionaires out of many men. Notable in this look at the scoring numbers over the last three seasons is the trio of top-flight linemates: Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl are all money on the No.
1 line. Let’s look at those three players and how well each scored in.