The mood around the Edmonton Oilers has shifted at the right time. A few weeks ago, there was real tension as they fought to secure a playoff spot. Now, with Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks on the horizon, the urgency feels different. It is sharper, more focused. Connor McDavid did not hide that contrast on Sunday, admitting the grind of the regular season had started to wear thin for a team built with bigger ambitions in mind.
Why does Connor McDavid believe the Oilers are better built for the playoffs now
Connor McDavid’s honesty stood out, not just for what he said but how he said it. “It was a little bit dire, obviously, with some health questions and fighting for a playoff spot. We’ve earned the opportunity to be in this position, Pacific Division or not. We’re here. We’re in the playoffs, and we have an opportunity to play a Game 1 tomorrow, and that’s exciting. I know this group is excited for it,” he said.That sense of relief is paired with something else. Hunger. The Oilers finished 41-30-11, not their strongest showing in recent years, but context matters. This is a team that has played more postseason hockey than anyone over the past three seasons. Managing energy was part of the plan, even if it made the regular season feel flat at times.“The regular season has become a little bit monotonous for this group, and I think you see that through the day-to-day. But this is what we get excited for,” McDavid added.There is also a noticeable edge in how he has carried himself lately. Whether it was his earlier “pillow fight” remark about the division or his candid reflections on legacy, McDavid has leaned into a more open tone. It suggests a player who understands the window in front of him and what it demands.Experience, he believes, is the difference now. “Knowing what to expect, knowing what it’s going to feel like, the environment, the game, the pressures, the momentum swings. Playoffs is really a different game. It really is, and you have to understand all of that. And this group understands that,” he said.That understanding will be tested quickly. Anaheim arrives with speed and skill, the kind that can punish any lapse. Edmonton may also get reinforcements, with Leon Draisaitl progressing and Jason Dickinson skating, though both still await clearance.Health remains a quiet theme behind everything. “You know, health throughout the playoffs is important, and whoever can stay the healthiest has the best chance of winning. So, you want to be healthy day one, and we’re getting closer and closer to that. That being said, we know whoever’s in the line, if you get the job done, you know whoever’s in there, we expect to play our game.”For Edmonton, the reset is complete. The real season has arrived.
