What the Edmonton Oilers are doing at centre has been my focus through training camp, with the plan set for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to play together (at least at home) and working out Colton Dach and even Trent Frederic at practice as pivots.

I’m not sold on this plan. How quickly does Babcock ditch this? The five-game mark? 10?

I take his point that 20 minutes of that pair spent together leaves 40 minutes for the other lines. But giving more time to other lines doesn’t mean they’ll win their shifts and generate offence.

In theory, it sounds great. In practice? We’ve seen the results over the years. 

The great McDavid-Draisaitl yo-yo will continue one way or another, but how much, how often, and what that means for the rest of the crew is where the worries start. 

That stress test gets firmer when Jason Dickinson, months removed from the believed foot/ankle issue that dogged him through the end of the regular season and playoffs, is going through a setback already to begin the season. 

That doesn’t mean panic, but it does underline how prevalent this issue, or general injury concern, should factor into how we view this player. 

He missed 18 games last season and 23 games the season before that. Maybe it shouldn’t be so much of a concern considering he played every game three seasons ago, for example, but Dickinson is 31 now and gives off the impression of the grizzled war horse.

He’s undoubtedly an asset, but I’m worried this situation could linger, if not physically, then mentally. Although it’s not a one-to-one comparison, Trent Frederic said he didn’t feel right on his ankle all of last season. 

Who wins out between Colton Dach, Josh Samanski, and Owen Michaels?

There does seem to be a desire to try wingers at centre instead of playing the centres at centre. Josh Samanski looks to be on the outside looking in. 

I won’t victory lap my summer takes on Owen Michaels, who I thought would have a chance to crack the roster due to his right-handedness and good positional habits, but he’s looked good, and Babs is certainly a fan. 

Michael Menzies

@Menzies_4

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Mike Babcock on Owen Michaels, who remains up with the Oilers at the moment: "Michaels is beyond smart. Skates elite. He's in all the good clips every night. I mean, it's not what we thought coming........

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