What McDavid said after first day of Edmonton Oilers training camp
The Edmonton Oilers are back on the ice for training camp, and all eyes remain on Connor McDavid.
McDavid was part of the first group of players to hit the ice for the first day of on-ice sessions on Thursday morning. It was an intense practice and one that saw the Oilers captain share a line with newcomers Andrew Mangiapane and David Tomasek.
The play on the ice, however, is the least of concerns for the Edmonton fan base. With camp officially open, McDavid still does not have a contract extension in place, which is causing widespread anxiety in the Alberta capital.
McDavid was asked about it again after the skate, but didn’t have much of an update.
“Not really much to report,” McDavid told reporters. “We think about it, we talk about it, gauge where we’re at, what we’re feeling. Nothing has really changed as of now.
“Just excited to be here at camp and get rolling. It’s always an exciting time for us and the rest of the league, and we’re excited.”
"Iām just excited to be here at camp & get rolling."
Connor McDavid speaks with the media following the opening on-ice session of #Oilers Training Camp at @RogersPlace.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/oRr2JZ2IOY
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 18, 2025
With no new updates on contract talks, things shifted to how the first real practice of the season went. It was a high-octane session for the group as they worked on battles and full-ice rushes. The Oilers captain seemed to be in top form as he somehow seemed faster than usual.
McDavid said that the first on-ice session felt great for the group.
“I thought that was the best practice we’ve had in a long, long, long time,” McDavid said. “It was exciting, fun to be out there, high pace, competitive… That was the best practice we’ve had in a long time.”
McDavid is absolutely FLYING during this first sessionā¦ too fast for my filming abilities apparently #Oilers pic.twitter.com/nIGOj6lslB
— Preston Hodgkinson (@NHLHodgkinson) September 18, 2025
It feels like McDavid is a man on a mission this season and is looking to make a change in how he approaches the game. Last season saw him score just 26 goals, which is the lowest total since he scored 16 in his rookie season back in the 2015-16 season.
McDavid is just two seasons removed from a 64-goal campaign, and it sounds like he is determined to get back to that level this year.
“Scoring goals was something early in my career that I wanted to work on, and I seemed to check that box,” McDavid said. “Then, for whatever reason, it’s gone back to the playmaking side, which is fine too… But I want to score goals, and I want to play at a high level and play at the level I expect for myself.
“Looking to establish that right away.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise that McDavid is holding himself to a high standard after two straight Stanley Cup Final defeats. The job still hasn’t been finished in Edmonton, and the Oilers captain is going to be hellbent on getting back to the final for a third-straight season.