'Let's play smart': Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have changed their game to chase the Cup
Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have changed their game to chase the Cup (Image via Getty)
A new change has been made for the Edmonton Oilers during the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Two of their top players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, started playing with a new mindset.
It's not just about scoring goals anymore. They've embraced defense and team play. That shift is helping the Oilers in big ways this playoff season.
Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are leading with
smart hockey
not just skill
On Friday, June 6, 2025, before Game 2 against the Florida Panthers, head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed during morning skate in Edmonton that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would stay on separate lines. This plan was tested in Game 1 at Rogers Place and it worked well.
The Oilers won with a balanced team effort.
Knoblauch said keeping the stars apart helps every player feel important. 'They've got a role,' Knoblauch told reporters in Edmonton after practice. 'We're not just relying on one line to do all the work.'
This decision was made after both McDavid and Draisaitl showed they were ready to do more than just score. They were defending hard and making smart plays all over the ice. The coaching staff saw they could trust them to lead in new ways.
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Edmonton Oilers Mix Hometown Ice Into Rogers Place Rink For Stanley Cup Final
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's silent glance in Game 1 showed they understood the bigger picture
During Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars on May 25, 2025, there was a key moment. McDavid and Draisaitl looked at each other on the bench. It wasn't a loud signal. Just a glance. But it showed they both knew the team needed them—offensively and defensively.
E
arlier in their careers, that look might've meant 'Let's go score.' Now, it means, 'Let's play smart and shut things down.'
Coach Knoblauch shared how proud he was of that moment. 'They know when the time is right. They can switch gears and take over,' he said.
Even when apart, McDavid and Draisaitl are helping other teammates step up. Players like Kasperi Kapanen and Corey Perry have been more effective. That's possible because the top stars are drawing attention and freeing up others.
Knoblauch said on June 5, 'It spreads out our scoring and keeps everyone involved.'
And when the Oilers need to go all in? McDavid and Draisaitl can still team up—and be unstoppable.
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