Edmonton, AB – As the Edmonton Oilers prepared to face the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday night, Oilers' star Leon Draisaitl offered a candid assessment of the Mammoth's impressive start to the 2025-26 season. While acknowledging their skill and current momentum, Draisaitl tempered expectations, emphasizing the long road ahead in the NHL season.
"Obviously, a lot of skill, a team that's feeling it right now, but this isn't the time where it matters to feel it right?" Draisaitl remarked. "You gotta show it down the stretch, so obviously they got off to a good start, which helps, so it's gonna be a great test for us".
Draisaitl's comments come as the Utah Mammoth have emerged as one of the league's early-season surprises, boasting a seven-game winning streak fueled by young stars like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther. Nick Schmaltz leads the Mammoth in points with 16. However, Draisaitl's remarks suggest the Oilers aren't intimidated by the streak.
The Oilers, who have Stanley Cup aspirations, have had a less-than-stellar start with a 4-4-2 record. Draisaitl's perspective could be interpreted as a message to his own team, suggesting that a hot start isn't the ultimate indicator of Stanley Cup contention. The Oilers, with their experience, understand the importance of sustained success throughout the grueling 82-game season.
"It's not easy just to say, 'OK, well now it's time to turn it on and here we come,'" said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. "You got to start building your game, and we've been talking about it. We're obviously trying, we're working, so there's little things here and there that we can keep improving on, but we don't want to let it slip too far, and we want to get our game going right now".
The game against the Mammoth presents an opportunity for the Oilers to measure themselves against a confident opponent and regain their footing. Draisaitl, who recently celebrated his 30th birthday, is currently playing under an eight-year, $112 million contract extension with the Oilers. In 2025, he led the NHL with 52 goals and reached 400 career goals.
Adding to the significance of the game, the Oilers are honoring the Canadian military at Tuesday's game against the Utah Mammoth. The Rogers Place will feature a military theme, including a special puck drop, a flag party, and tributes to military members throughout the game. The Oilers will also debut their new alternate uniform.
The Oilers are hoping to build a win streak as they play five of their next seven games at home. Following the game against the Mammoth, they will face the New York Rangers on Thursday and the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
