EDMONTON — Connor McDavid finally hit the ice Tuesday with his new linemate — the six-foot-three freight train named Milan Lucic — and was barely off the ice before passing judgment.
"He's almost a perfect winger for myself," McDavid told reporters. "Just the way he plays I think it's going to work well. He opens up so much room. He wins battles, he keeps a ton of pucks alive."
Lucic skated on a line with McDavid and right-winger Jordan Eberle in what is expected to be a training camp preview of the Oilers' top line this season.
"You have to be ready no matter where you are on the ice because he [McDavid] is really good at getting guys the puck," said Lucic. "That's one thing that I've definitely got to get used to, just being ready for pucks at all times in scoring positions. When you get those chances you've got to make sure you score.
``It's exciting for me,'' he added.
``It's a big reason I chose to come to Edmonton was to play with him.''
McDavid and centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skated for the first time in training camp Tuesday, returning from playing with Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey.
McDavid, touted as the NHL's next dominant player, will build off an impressive rookie campaign (16 goals, 48 points, 15.2 shooting percentage) despite losing half the season to a broken collarbone.
Lucic, a 233-pound 28-year-old, was signed over the off-season as a free agent to replace dynamo Oilers forward Taylor Hall, and is expected to deliver more size, strength, and sandpaper to the lineup.
``Milan is big and strong. He has the ability to hold onto pucks and deliver them at the right time,'' said head coach Todd McLellan.
``He'll go to the net, [and he's] a little bit of a policeman on that line as well, so we'll see where it goes.''
Eberle has also been getting ready. He worked over the past summer with a coach to improve his shot and to find more open spots in the offensive zone.
Nugent-Hopkins was knocked out with a broken hand in 2015-16 and played just 55 games.
He is looking for more consistent scoring, and won plaudits for his strong two-way play in the World Cup.
``I knew I needed to be responsible on both sides of the rink [in the tournament],'' said Nugent-Hopkins.
``It's something that I've taken pride in a lot over the past few years, and I'm going to keep working at that and try to take a few more steps there.''
Nugent-Hopkins played between Benoit Pouliot and No. 1 draft pick Jesse Puljujarvi in practice.
The Oilers have their work cut out for them on both ends of the ice.
The offence averaged 2.43 goals a game (tied for 25th) while the defence gave up 2.95 every game (27th) en route to a 29th-place finish and a 10th consecutive season out of the playoffs.
McLellan has said the main goal this year is to improve the goal differential. The Oilers were minus 42 last season. Only the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks were worse.
Notes: The Oilers are still down a couple of bodies. Defenceman Andrej Sekera and centre Leon Draisaitl are still playing for Team Europe against Team Canada in the World Cup final.
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