Surprising Power Play Stat Has NHL Insider Calling Out Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl

NHL insider Jason Gregor wants Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to shoot more in order to improve the Oilers' power-play, as he feels they haven't been doing so.

In the middle of July, the Edmonton Oilers acted by bringing in Paul McFarland as the team's new assistant coach, with hopes that he would take over the team's power play for the next season.

Paul McFarland has an excellent coaching resume that all started when he had his first stint in the OHL as an assistant coach for the Oshawa Generals.

That role lasted for two years before he moved on to the Kingston Frontenacs, where he was the head coach for three years. During that period, he led them to the playoffs each of those three seasons.

At the NHL level, McFarland has been an assistant with the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and, most recently, with the Seattle Kraken under Dave Hakstol.

There, he coached the forwards and ran the power play, which is most likely the position he's going to be performing again in Edmonton, essentially taking the job that was previously filled by Glen Gulutzan.

McFarland is also widely known among other coaches around the game of hockey for speaking at 'The Coaches Site Live' event.

In 2022, he spoke during a session titled 'The Importance of Zone Entries and Attacking off the Rush,' which shows his experience in that category.

Jason Gregor Hopes McFarland Can Be the Spark That McDavid and Draisaitl Need

NHL insider Jason Gregor indicated that if he were McFarland, his main objectives would be to have Connor McDavid shoot more often and get Leon Draisaitl to return to his 2023 and 2024 power-play style.

'I want McDavid shooting more and I want Draisaitl back up to the level he was in 23 & 24. If I'm Paul McFarland (Oilers PP coach) the thing I'm going to look at is why the Oilers are shooting so much less on the powerplay'.

- Jason Gregor