Edmonton Oilers cancel captains skates this season

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Liam McCormick
September 8, 2024 (3:04 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers had the shortest possible offseason after going to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and it's changed the way they're preparing for this season.

According to a new article from the Edmonton Journal, the Oilers will not be holding their traditional Captain's Skates this year.

» No official Captain's Skates for Edmonton this year. You know, losing teaches one lessons only learned by enduring that pain. One thing the Oilers may have learned is that it is way more of a marathon than they ever imagined.»
- Kurt Leavins

Connor McDavid recently explained that overtraining last offseason caused some problems for the Oilers early in the season. Corey Perry also said in a recent interview that the Oilers know they can't win the Stanley Cup in October. The Oilers are clearly taking a more relaxed approach to this preseason, knowing the long journey of the regular season is ahead of them before they can compete in the playoffs again.

Despite this, a few players have already arrived in Edmonton before training camp officially begins to start skating with each other. Mattias Ekholm, Victor Arvidsson, and Zach Hyman were the first skaters to hit the ice, and a few more have joined since. After signing his record breaking contract extension last week, Leon Draisaitl hit the ice too.

The Oilers are clearly trying not to replicate the mistake they made last season of opening their year as a last-place team. Hopefully their experience and changes serve them well, and with their talent and motivation, they should be contending for the President's Trophy this year.