Edmonton returns the core of its roster this season, which includes forwards Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Evander Kane. The Oilers traded forwards Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin to the Detroit Red Wings, making room under the NHL’s salary cap for forward Connor Brown, who was a junior teammate of McDavid’s with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League.
Brown signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Edmonton, coming off a knee injury that limited him to four games with the Washington Capitals last season.
“I’m really excited about that, I don’t think you can have many guys like ‘Brownie’,” McDavid said. “I think he plays the same game as Zach Hyman, just tougher. He’s a great guy in the room, super competitive, just wants to win at all costs and you can never have too many guys.
Brown, 29, played on a line with McDavid in Erie and the two combined for 227 points in 2013-14. Brown had 128 points (45 goals, 83 assists) in 68 games and McDavid had 99 points (28 goals, 71 assists) in 56 games as a 16-year-old. McDavid believes the two will discover their junior chemistry in the NHL.
“I think it’s possible,” McDavid said. “He has a very significant knee injury, so I think there should be a little bit of a grace period for him, but that being said, I think he looks great. He’s put in a lot of hard work; good his movement and I’m sure he’ll be good right off the bat.
Another significant offseason change for Edmonton was the hiring of McDavid’s former agent Jeff Jackson as CEO of hockey operations. Jackson left his agency, Wasserman Hockey, to take the position with the Oilers, replacing Bob Nicholson, who became a special adviser.
“I’m excited about ‘Jacks’ taking on the role,” McDavid said. “I’ve been working with Jacks since I was 15 years old, and I know what he thinks and how he looks at teams and organizations and everything. Obviously he knows our team inside and out with me being here and paying attention to what the Oilers are doing, so he knows the Oilers. “
McDavid has three years left on his contract, while Draisaitl is going into the second-to-last year of his contract. McDavid won the scoring race last season with 153 points (64 goals, 89 assists); Draisaitl finished second with 128 points (52 goals, 76 assists). Both are eligible to become unrestricted free agents at the end of their contracts, adding a sense of urgency to trying to win the Stanley Cup during that season.
“I feel the urgency every year, regardless of contracts or anything like that,” McDavid said. “I feel that our opportunity is here now, with the age of our group and the stages that we have gone through and the steps. I feel very good about our group. I feel that everyone is at their peak.”
McDavid and Draisaitl trained together over the summer before heading to Edmonton to prepare for the season.
“Leon had an amazing summer,” McDavid said. “He’s put a lot of work into it, I know he’s very motivated, he looks good, and I expect him to have a really good year.”