With the Edmonton Oilers set to play their first game of the NHL preseason on Sept. 19, the team’s alternate captain Leon Draisaitl says there are “fresh vibes” on the ice. “It’s nice to be around the guys again,” said the forward. “Obviously there are some fresh vibes around here, new coaching staff. I’m excited.” The Oilers hired Mike Babcock as head coach in June after the National Hockey League cleared him in an investigation requested by the players’ association alleging player privacy infringement. “He knows what this team needs,” said Draisaitl. “And he doesn’t shy away from telling you straight to your face – he’s a real man about it, and we’re all men in here and we all want to win.” New additions to the coaching staff also include D.J. Smith as associate coach and Misha Donskov as a coaching consultant. The German native said the team struggled to define their “A-game” or sustain it last season. “That’s going to be our number one task in the regular season.” Another plight the Oilers couldn’t seem to shake off was their roster of injured players, notably captain Connor McDavid, who was injured in the first round of the playoffs, and Mattias Janmark who underwent surgery for an undisclosed injury in March. “Injuries didn’t help us late in the season,” Draisaitl told reporters Thursday. Draisaitl was also out with a lower-body injury for a number of games later in the season, along with Zach Hyman who missed a handful of games with an undisclosed injury in April. Janmark will miss out on training camp along with recently signed goaltender Frederik Andersen, defenceman Alec Regula, and forward Matt Savoie. Despite having one goaltender out to start, Draisaitl said he is confident Tristan Jarry and young prospect Devon Levi will be able to mind some pucks. “I think both of them have looked great so far … they put in the work,” said Draisaitl. “Obviously excited to get Freddy in the mix as well and hopefully he can get healthy as soon as possible. “I think we’ll have three goalies that are reliable and that we can trust.” The Oilers Rookie Camp will start Friday with 25 players on the roster. Hopefuls include forwards Isaac Howard, Josh Samanski, Connor Clattenburg and Quinn Hutson. Rookies will hit the ice at 2:15 p.m. to start three days of practice before their first Battle of Alberta against the Calgary Flames rookies on Monday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Edmonton Oilers Training Camp starts Sept. 15 with their first preseason game against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place on Sept. 19.
