The Edmonton Oilers are entering another critical campaign, just one year removed from back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final and laser-focused on finishing the job in 2026-27.

With new head coach Mike Babcock behind the bench, the Oilers will again lean heavily on superstar forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — and the controversial bench boss intends to open the season with the pair on the same line.

“I’m going to try and start with the two of them together, for sure,” Babcock said following the opening of training camp Thursday, per NHL.com's Derek Van Diest. “The third piece on each of those top three lines, I don’t know that. And I also don’t know just on health.

“I like them both to drive a line, and I think (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) can drive a line. So, what I think we’re going to do is we’re going to learn about each other. You guys (media), that’s your job to speculate and come up with these theories, but I don’t have any yet. I’m going to watch them and they’re going to decide, and I think that’s the thing to understand. … They’re going to decide who plays with who and how much each guy plays, not us.”

The Oilers haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1990, and with McDavid's two-year contract set to expire in the summer of 2028, the clock is ticking.

If Edmonton is unable to find a way to win a championship over the next two seasons, there is no guarantee McDavid will commit to another long-term extension in Alberta. Still, nobody outside his inner circle knows what is going through No. 97's head.

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The Oilers should remain among the NHL's elite in 2026-27, led by two of the best players in hockey and a strong supporting cast.

Draisaitl also commented on Babcock's first NHL practice since he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs 23 games into the 2019-20 season.

“It was great. It was intense,” the German said, per Van Diest. “He’s energetic. He wants things done a certain way and he wants them done right. I think anyone in the building could hear it and probably see it, but it’s great, the details are great. He cares about the little things, so it was a good first day.”

The Oilers begin their 2026-27 campaign against the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29.