Connor McDavid played the most minutes amongst NHL forwards in the 2025-26 season by a healthy margin.

The Edmonton Oilers phenom played 43 seconds more per game than the next closest in Nathan MacKinnon, averaging 22:59 for the year. That was the highest average ice-time of his career: nine seconds more than in 2018-19 which was highest, 57 seconds more per game than last season, and 1:37 more than two seasons ago.

In a truncated schedule, off of back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, and a mid-season lightning rod shock like the Olympics, the 29-year-old McDavid played more than ever before.

Leon Draisaitl’s numbers didn’t trend quite the same way. While his 21:35 per game was more than the last two seasons, it was not near his highest average ice-times.

Having these two immensely talented centres boils down into consistent themes for the Oilers.

What’s the ice-time sweet spot for these two players? Is it better to play them together or apart? And if you do play them apart, is there enough ice-time to go around, so depth players can take ownership of roles and feel a part of the team?

Whether the big horses are overtly wielding their influence to get lots of ice time or not, the conversation persists through various coaches. Draisaitl was sure to shut down the notion that him and McDavid demand ice-time from coaches.

“I think what makes Connor and I who we are is because we want to be out there. We want to be out there in every situation,” said Draisaitl in his exit interview Saturday. 

“We want to play a lot. But sometimes you hear things— I don’t know if this is you guys or whoever it might be— that we talk to coaches about wanting to play 24 to 25 minutes. That is never, ever the case.”

‘Depth guys need more of a role’

Exit interviews on Saturday touched on these questions. Head coach Kris Knoblauch, whose job is player deployment, faces criticism from the fan base at times for his usage of the two.

While his job status isn’t safe heading into the off-season, Knoblauch was asked whether he needs to lower McDavid and Draisaitl’s minutes during the regular season to benefit the whole team come playoff time.

“Your best players, have to be their best in the long run to win,” said Knoblauch. “But it’s unfair for them to be responsible for every win and loss, and you need other guys stepping up and being able to contribute.

“You need other guys........

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