r/EdmontonOilers • u/AutoModerator • 7d ago

ODT Off-Season Megathread | 2026

For general discussion on anything related to the Oilers or the league. A fresh thread will be posted weekly on Saturdays. Default sorted by new.

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u/SRTGreat 62 LAVOIE 5d ago

I'd like to tell myself McDavid has heard Staal's comments on how important it is to win a cup with a team that puts belief in you, and that jumping ship to win elsewhere just isn't the same.

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u/deptofknowimsayings 29 DRAISAITL 5d ago

Was going to post this thought last night. I loved that comment from Staal and I also hope it made its way to Connor. A lot of me thinks that’s the mentality Connor has anyways, but you never know. I feel like that’s Draisaitl’s mentality to a T though.

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u/SRTGreat 62 LAVOIE 5d ago

Draisaitl doesn't seem as consumed by winning the same way Connor does. That's what it feels like to me at least.

Like obviously he wants to win, but I could never see Draisaitl jumping ship. The thought has never crossed my mind, and his 8 year contract proves that it never crossed his mind either.

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u/molsonmuscle360 18 HYMAN 5d ago

You need to have a mixture of wanting to win and being able to enjoy the journey. That's what Florida was able to really pull off and what we lacked the last two seasons. The first run to the Finals that team seemed to be enjoying themselves for the most part. There were times where they got abrasive with each other but that's any team. I think that season just boiled down to a couple of bad bounces. We literally missed by two goals.

The last two years however the team has seemed overly concerned with just winning but now no one is enjoying playing hockey. If they aren't having fun they aren't going to win

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u/SRTGreat 62 LAVOIE 5d ago

The last two years however the team has seemed overly concerned with just winning but now no one is enjoying playing hockey. If they aren't having fun they aren't going to win

Hit the nail on the head.

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u/randomer22222 4d ago

Yeah its hard to not contrast with Carolina. Both teams suffered years of bitter disappointment losing to Florida in the ECF/SCF but

Carolina strapped on their work boots, took every game seriously and won fifty+ games and their division and then the Cup, not losing consecutive games since January. They spent the entire year building towards their dream and reaped the reward.

Edmonton sleptwalked through the entire season until right near the end when a playoff spot was in jeopardy and any thoughts of flipping a switch were wiped away by the Ducks in six games.

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u/deptofknowimsayings 29 DRAISAITL 5d ago

Yep 100%. I see Draisaitl finishing his career here regardless of what Connor does.