Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl among Oilers practicing in Edmonton ahead of training camp

We’re so back.

With the Labour Day long weekend come and gone, the Edmonton Oilers are returning to the ice in preparation for this month’s training camp. On Monday, the team shared a first look at some of the players back in Edmonton this week, headlined by returning regulars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm, Trent Frederic, and Calvin Pickard. Joining them on the ice this week were the newly acquired Andrew Mangiapane, top prospect Matt Savoie, defenceman Alec Regula, and attackers Noah Philp, David Tomášek, and Max Jones.

There’s a lot up for grabs at this year’s training camp, as Savoie and fellow prospect Ike Howard are primed to grab a roster spot with the Oilers this year, chasing a successful camp and preseason to do so. Savoie and Howard landed No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on Oilersnation’s 2025 Summer prospect rankings and are both stories to watch this season. With that, Edmonton’s lineup is set to have a different look this season, as they try to overcome that final barrier and win their first Stanley Cup in the McDavid era.

Mangiapane was another one of Edmonton’s adds this summer, signing a two-year, $7.2 million contract as a free agent on July 1st. Last year with the Washington Capitals, the 29-year-old had 14 goals and 28 points, though it was a slight dip from the production he put up with the Calgary Flames in previous seasons. In the 2021-22 season, he had 35 goals and 55 points, both career highs, and he’ll be looking for numbers closer to that this season with this offensively-minded group.

Of course, McDavid and Draisaitl are always the headline stealers, especially as McDavid enters the final year of his contract with the Oilers. At this point, it’s unclear if he intends to sign an extension before the start of the season.

And if your favourites aren’t in the list, don’t fret. This is just our first glimpse of what we’ll be seeing over the next month. Training camp gets started soon, with preseason action kicking off on September 21, when the Oilers will host the Calgary Flames.

Who are you most excited to watch at training camp this year?