Woodcroft is displaying confidence in McDavid's new line.

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Ryan Hall
September 23, 2023 (0:38)

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As training camp intensifies and players shake off the rust from their summer vacation, head coaches across the league are testing their players' ability to handle the pressure of their assigned lines.

Most camps have divided their players into multiple groups. In the Oilers' first on-ice session today, head coach Jay Woodcroft appears highly confident in his choice for the first line.

Woodcroft is determined to keep the McDavid line together, hoping to rekindle the magic and chemistry that McDavid shared with his former Erie Otters linemate, Connor Brown. Both Brown and McDavid played pivotal roles with the Otters, delighting their fans.

Woodcroft has deployed this line for six consecutive practices, and with the addition of Evander Kane on the left side, there's potential for this line to become dynamic and fill the void the Oilers were experiencing. This could allow Woodcroft to move other players further down the depth chart.

Of course, it's still early in training camp, and there's always the possibility that chemistry may not develop as expected. In such cases,
Woodcroft may need to reevaluate and consider alternative players who can keep up with McDavid's pace.

The Oilers are set to kick off their preseason against the Winnipeg Jets on September 24th.