As the Edmonton Oilers took on a red-hot Utah Mammoth team on Tuesday night, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl appeared to be the Mammoth’s early season surge. He gave them credit for their start, but noted there is still plenty of time in the season for things to change.
“Obviously there’s a lot of skill, a team that’s feeling it now, but this isn’t the time when it matters to feel it right. You have to show it along the way, so they’ve obviously started well, which helps, so it’s going to be a great test for us,” Draisaitl said.
This may not be Draisaitl throwing shade at Utah. Instead, it could be the superstar suggesting that Edmonton’s Medicore start at 4-4-2 isn’t a reason to be concerned. The Oilers don’t like the way they’re playing, but they know from past experience that a hot start (or a cold start, in their case) doesn’t mean much when it comes to Stanley Cup contenders.
The Mammoth’s seven-game winning streak is being promoted by young stars who haven’t had the experience to maintain that level of success through 82 games. They very well could, but there’s a chance things could turn around as quickly as the team exploded out of the gate. The Oilers have a chance to put a dent in Utah’s current armor.
Utah was one of the NHL’s hottest teams to start 2025-26, with stars like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther driving their success. Still, Draisaitl’s comments suggest the Oilers aren’t intimidated by the streak and are instead focusing on the bigger picture. One fan suggested that Draisaitl was getting a little “cheeky,” which fans can only hope is a good sign. In the hockey universe, if a player posts comments that seem a little arrogant, chances are he’s meant to support it.
For Edmonton, the game offers a chance to test themselves against a confident opponent while getting their own game back on track. The Oilers will also debut their new alternate jerseys at Rogers Place.
Next: Zach Hyman’s return means oil companies are finally breaking a bad habit
#Oilers #Draisaitl #Sassy #takes #Mammoths #hot #start #ahead #Tuesdays #Clash