One of the things that has major appeal for blogs and message boards is the debate over lines and pairings. In today’s GDT, you will read all sorts of discussion (and hopefully take part in it) about best pairings for tonight. Debate, discussion, back and forth. The first time I ever typed anything onto the internet, it was a debate over Daniel Cleary versus Dan Lacouture. You may find this hard to believe (or not) but I was wrong. Kim Gernack, who is now in heaven, won that round, and introduced me to the art of commenting online and respecting opinion.

It is fun to play along with the decisions of your favorite team, to argue the things you don’t like and remind others about things we called long ago. We all do it, this is fun! I have also received an education, from hf boards, other blogs, this one too, about the doings of NHL teams and coaches. I learned more from Craig MacTavish and his deployment of players during his coaching career than I had from anyone since Howie Meeker in my youth. MacT did some unusual things (ran Toby Petersen on the PP, others) but the man made sense in word and deed as a coach and there is not enough time in either of our lives for you to change my mind on it.

Edmonton’s current coach, Kris Knoblauch, has a lot of things in common with MacT when he coached the team. Knoblauch has advantages, beginning with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisiatl. Both men made the final as coaches, and Knoblauch has done it twice. Question: What would MacT do with this team?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN DECEMBER

• At home to: Wild, Kraken, Jets (Expected 2-1-0) 2-1-0
• At home to: Sabres, Red Wings (Expected 1-0-1) 1-0-1
• On the road to: TML, Canadiens, Penguins (Expected 2-1-0) 2-1-0
• On the road to: Bruins, Wild (Expected 1-1-0) 1-1-0
• At home to: VEG, Flames (Expected 1-0-1) 2-0-0
• On the road to: Flames, Jets (Expected 1-0-1) 0-1-0
• At home to: Bruins (Expected 1-0-0)
• Expected Record: 9-3-3, 21 points in 15 games
• Actual Record: 8-4-1, 17 points in 13 games
• Season Record: 19-14-6, 44 points in 39 games

A CONVERSATION

This is dumb. Cool, you may advance straight to the comments section.

MacT would never try Jack Roslovic at center, I’ll tell you that much. Are you kidding? MacT tried to make every swinging Dick a center. Chad Kilger? Spent hours with him. Marc Pouliot? MacT tried damned hard with him.

Since when it MacT the gold standard for Oilers coaching? Knoblauch is the best Oilers coach since MacTavish, but I’m not sure he is better. Today’s article is hopefully the start of a conversation.

You always liked MacT as a coach? I wasn’t thrilled with MacT’s power plays and he faded first-round picks like they were rancid meat, but the man could make a team hum five-on-five. That’s what Chris Knoblauch needs now.

So the Roslovic at center idea is a good one? I don’t think it will work, but the Carolina Hurricanes tried it and that’s a smart organization. It’s worth a try.

What would MacT do? I have no doubt that he would run Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as the No. 3 center. MacT liked to run three strong centers and the third guy (Michael Peca on MacT’s best team) was more like the first guy in terms of minutes played in some important games. He ran Shawn Horcoff the most in 2005-06, followed by Jarret Stoll, then Peca, then Marty Reasoner until he was traded. That’s a classic MacT center depth chart. Reasoner was a helluva player. He could impact the game across 200 feet.

The great thing about saying that about Reasoner is it’s clearly a lie but most people won’t remember him. In 2005-06, the Oilers finished -3 overall at even strength. Reasoner was +12. He could play, and he dominated the soft parade that year. I wish they hadn’t traded him at the deadline.

MacT would fade Savoie and Ike Howard more than Knoblauch does! I think MacT would use Savoie a little more, actually. If a young player showed he could be trusted, MacT would play him over established guys. Pisani over Cleary is one example, but there are countless others. I don’t think Howard in the AHL would be a problem for the old coach, he would want him to arrive in the NHL with sufficient discipline. Howard, who is a sublime talent, still blows the zone often.

What would MacT’s lines look like? I wrote about this at The Athletic today. I wrote about the two best No. 3 lines for Edmonton 25 years ago. I think MacT’s third line would include the smartest center available (Nuge), with a filty winger and a two-way type who could score. That would be the template.

Who is the filthy winger? Trent Frederic. He’s not skating as well as he did two years ago, but there are good signs there. He’s also not confident now, I’m glad they’ve moved him off center. Frederic, when healthy and playing his best, would be a terrifc third LW on the Nuge line. I’m certain of it.

Who is the two-way type? It has to be a young winger. Matt Savoie is the guy I would try first, he’s so smart and won’t give up on a play. He’s shy offensively at five-on-five, and if the third line is going to work someone will need to help drive it from the wing.

Who would MacT try? Now we reach the purpose for today’s exercise. I think MacT would figure out a way to push Quinn Hutson into the lineup on a third line with Nuge and one of Frederic or Vasily Podkolzin.

MacT hated rookies! Shawn Horcoff played NHL games as a rookie pro, age 22. The coach also employed older rookies like Dominec Pittis (25) when the incumbents were found wanting. Brought an entire line to the NHL in 2000 fall. MacT was very good at increasing the talent pool by trusting unproven players who thrived at five-on-five. He faded power-play specialists and indifferent checkers. I think he’d elevate Hutson this year, maybe Howard later in the year.

What about defense? MacT ran his best heavily, something he shares with Knoblauch. MacT made his defensemen better, too. I could quote you chapter and verse about how much he improved individual players, but will pick just one. Igor Ulanov was an absolute masher on the ice, but MacT gifted him defensive finesse and it made all the difference.

What do you mean? I went to a practice or two during those years, and MacT’s drills were impressive. One drill I well remember involved the defenseman forcing the puck carrier to the outside while matching his speed at the blue line. Get the forward outside, then skate him to the end of the rink without getting to the net. MacT had Ulanov (and all the blue) do it without a stick. Disaster early, dreadful for a time, but Ulanov got it eventually. I’m always struck by this Oilers team acquiring good players from teams like Nashville and having them stand out immediately. Why does that happen? I think this Oilers team could use some fundamentals. Maybe there’s no time. I think Alec Regula could use some of those MacT drills.

Is Knoblauch a good coach? Of course he is. The team made it to the SCF in his first two seasons as coach of the team.

Is he better than MacT was? That I don’t know. MacT made his players better. I’m not sure Knoblauch does. Maybe no one can get better with small amounts of ice time, but every year the third and fourth lines are an issue. Sooner or later, you develop a past. Knoblauch’s past in this area is not strong. He would do well to strike up a conversation with MacTavish.

On the Lowdown today, Rachel Kryshak and Jason Gregor are my guests, and we’ll talk NFL wild weekend, NBA, WJ’s and more. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.