EDMONTON — The ol’ top line switcheroo has become a staple of Edmonton Oilers hockey.

For years now, coaches have either started Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on separate lines, then put them together to gain a spark in a game that’s not going Edmonton’s way. Or, they start them on the same line, but get forced to separate the two superstars when it becomes clear that the rest of the lineup can’t score enough to carry its weight.

Enter Mike Babcock, who has had the two on the same line throughout training camp.

We asked him if he has a productive enough second line to hold fast on the McDavid-and-Draisaitl-on-the-same-line thing.

“I like our third line to be productive, and I like our fourth line to be productive,” was his retort. “Now, productive the way you're talking about it, is just the numbers on the sheet. That doesn't matter as much to me. What matters to me is, did we wear out the other team? Did we play right? Did we come after you? Were we organized? And do we have a chance to win in the long term?”

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