Edmonton Oilers: McDavid, Nurse at BioSteel Camp

There are many big-name players at BioSteel Camp in Toronto this week, but the Edmonton Oilers are still well-represented.

Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse are both participating in camp this week. Both took the ice and worked out Tuesday, and will be at camp throughout the week as they gear up for the 2017-18 campaign.

Edmonton Oilers

McDavid and Nurse both took the time to talk to the media, discussing the upcoming season. One of the biggest questions came regarding Edmonton’s biggest offseason transactions, where they locked up their captain and Leon Draisaitl for eight more years.

“It’s exciting to get to play with Leon for the next eight years,” McDavid told NHL.com. “He’s a fun guy to play with. To have the two of us locked up like that for a long time and have the pieces that we do as well in Edmonton, it is exciting.”

Nurse also told the media that it’s “definitely exciting knowing two of the top players in the League are going to be there for a long time.”

Both McDavid and Nurse come into the season hoping to bring the Oilers closer to their goal. Though they broke an 11-year playoff drought last season, they want to ensure a return to the postseason. And according to McDavid, 2017-18 provides not only a fresh start but also a clean slate.

"“It doesn’t really change much. Last year, we were able to find a little success, but we shouldn’t change anything. Every year is a new year, and when you look at the turnover year to year, teams that made the playoffs last year aren’t a guarantee to make the playoffs this year.” – McDavid to NHL.com"

When it comes to individual goals, McDavid stayed modest, denying that he was the top player in the NHL and saying there is still a lot of work to be done. Nurse is also looking to continue elevating his game so he can make himself more of a staple on the Oilers’ blue line.

Next: Edmonton Oilers: Where Does Bogdan Yakimov Stand?

Overall, the Oilers have many goals this season, but so far this offseason, the players have been training hard and preparing to take the next step forward.