Connor McDavid, captain of the Edmonton Oilers, has adjusted his offseason training strategy following the team’s rough start to the 2023-24 season.
Sportsnet’s Marc Spector interviewed McDavid, providing insight into his mindset. The Oilers began that season poorly, prompting a coaching change from Jay Woodcroft to Kris Knobaluch.
However, they managed a remarkable turnaround, moving from 14th place in the Western Conference to finishing second in the Pacific Division, eventually reaching the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Florida Panthers in a seven-game series.
In the previous offseason, McDavid gathered his teammates early in Edmonton for informal skates weeks before training camp.
While this was praised at the time, the Oilers’ 2-9-1 start to the season raised concerns about overtraining. Reflecting on this, McDavid told Sportsnet, “You can’t win the Cup in September and October, but you can put yourself in a tough spot.”
This year, McDavid has shifted his approach. Rather than organizing early skates, he’s prioritized listening to his body. In past summers, his training was intense, but it left him feeling fatigued by the season’s start. This year, he took time off and didn’t hit the ice until August, focusing on feeling strong and ready for the regular season.
Though the Oilers eventually made a deep playoff run, their early-season struggles forced them to expend considerable energy just to recover. Had they started stronger, they may have avoided grueling playoff series and perhaps had a better chance in the finals.
Looking ahead, Edmonton has the easiest schedule in the NHL for the 2024-25 season, based on Canada Sports Betting’s Strength of Schedule metric. McDavid hopes his new approach will lead to both personal and team success as the Oilers aim to build on last season’s performance.
