"There's one goal here": Oilers' Draisaitl looking to bring the Stanley Cup to Edmonton.

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Ryan Hall
September 9, 2023 (0:01)

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The NHL is about to gear up for another fantastic NHL season. Over the past years, the quality of entertainment has risen, and the intensity of the playoffs has improved immensely. Teams are stronger and divisions are more difficult to win as better players continue to filter into the league.

In regards to the playoffs, the Oilers certainly have much to prove this year and have a different resolve with the tone that's been set recently in several interviews by Oilers players. There's a sense of unfinished business as General Manager Ken Holland has essentially retained the same team he had last year, minus a few players like Klim Kostin, Kailer Yamamoto, and Jesse Puljujarvi.

This team is determined to take themselves to the next level and bring a Stanley Cup home for the sixth time in its history. This, according to Leon Draisaitl, the 27-year-old centerman who is one of the most consistent point-getters on the team and a fierce competitor.

"We're determined. You can see it in the fact that everyone's here, working hard, and trying to get things going early," Draisaitl said. "There's one goal here. Whether it pans out that way, we'll see, but one thing that's guaranteed is that we're going to do everything in our power to achieve that goal and get to that point. We're excited for the year; we're excited for new guys coming in, new additions, new faces. It should be a good year."

The Oilers have certainly had their chances over the past two years, after going to the Western Conference final where they were swept by the Avalanche in 2022. Last season, they lost in the second round to the Vegas Golden Knights.

This year is also important for Draisaitl as he will be entering a contract year and will be eligible after this season to sign an extension. It's paramount that the Oilers retain him, as he is one of the main pieces of their offence and has been one of the faces of the team, along with Connor McDavid.

Having played his entire career with the Oilers, he has played 638 games, scoring 306 goals with 438 assists for 744 points. He is a +29.

It will be an excellent season for the Oilers, and hopefully, a long playoff run.