On opening night of the 2020 NHL playoffs, Connor McDavid lined up as a No. 1 centre with wingers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zack Kassian, while Leon Draisaitl was at centre on the No. 2 line with Tyler Ennis and Kailer Yamamoto. It was a controversial deployment, as Nugent-Hopkins was a big part of the hottest line in hockey from January to March and the COVID-19 shutdown alongside Draisaitl and Yamamoto.
Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett had no choice as I saw it, he needed to make optimal use of McDavid, the game’s best player.
