Oilers return to practice, cheer on Winter Olympics teammates

Germany's Leon Draisaitl, left, leaves the ice following a win over France on Feb. 17, 2026, and Canada's Connor McDavid in action against Switzerland on Feb. 13 at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy.

On one hand, the Edmonton Oilers were focused on getting back to work on Tuesday following an almost two-week break.

As they should, as the National Hockey League stretch drive will begin next week.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told media after practice that the break gave coaches “good time to reflect and see how the season is going.”

“Being able to look at the things we do well and the things we can improve,” he said of what he and his staff were able to focus on during the break.

“Obviously, we want to change the direction of the way the season has been going.”

Understandable. Edmonton lost their final three games of action before the Winter Olympics break and had given up 28 goals over six games, going 2-4.

The Oilers (28-22-8) sit second in the Pacific Division standings with 64 points, four points behind the leading Vegas Golden Knights (27-16-14) and one ahead of the Seattle Kraken (27-20-9) and the Anaheim Ducks (30-23-3).

And now it’s time for the ‘on the other hand’ part of things, because indeed, Knoblauch and the Oilers’ players have been keeping up with the goings-on in Milano Cortina, site of this year’s Winter Olympics, featuring teammates Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Josh Samanski.

And it’s possible they could all be playing in a future round if McDavid’s Canada gets past Czechia in one quarterfinal, and Draisaitl’s and Samanski’s Germany beats Slovakia in another, all taking place on Wednesday.

Zach Hyman, McDavid’s regular linemate and fellow Oilers power-play fixture with both the captain and Draisaitl, said his star teammates have both been “off the charts.”

McDavid leads the men’s hockey tournament in scoring after the round-robin, with two goals and seven assists for nine points, while Draisaitl is tied for his team’s scoring lead with Tim Stutzle with six points (two goals, four assists.)

“They drive the bus on whatever team they’re on, whether it be our team or their respective Olympic teams,” Hyman said after practice. “I’m cheering for both those guys, and I think there may be a path that they can make the finals together, so that’d be fun. We’ll be cheering for that final.”

Samanski, a recent Oilers call-up from the minors who’s scored a goal and an assist in the Olympics, has earned praise for his play in Italy, too.

“Josh has been playing really well, been given a lot of responsibility there with that team,” Knoblauch said. “I’ve been enjoying watching the hockey and obviously cheering for Canada, but even if they’re not playing, I’ve been enjoying everybody else, watching those games.”