Why the Edmonton Oilers MUST Embrace the Grind to Win the Stanley Cup

The long, grueling road to the Stanley Cup begins right now in mid-September as informal workouts transition into NHL training camp. On today’s edition of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down why the Edmonton Oilers must fall in love with the process and the daily grind if they hope to turn their championship aspirations into reality. With Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard leading an elite core, the pressure has never been higher in Edmonton to finish the job and bring home a title. We dive deep into the psychology behind an 84-game regular season and why regular-season adversity is necessary to prepare a roster for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nick explains why injury management, bottom-six depth, and defensive structure will ultimately make or break Edmonton's campaign. Furthermore, we examine the shifting locker room dynamic—including the major coaching transition to Mike Babcock—and how accountability will dictate the team's postseason ceiling. Finally, we reflect on the emotional weight of sports fandom, the closing window for key veteran players, and what it truly takes to stack consistent wins over an eight-month marathon. Hockey is a game of attrition where every informal skate and gym session lays the foundation for June glory. Subscribe to Locked On Oilers for daily, comprehensive coverage of the Edmonton Oilers throughout the preseason and the entire NHL season. 03:35 Early NHL season workouts 08:24 Preparing for a championship season 13:54 Oilers' long offseason recovery 15:20 Building the NHL dream team 18:04 Wildcard teams in Stanley Cup finals 21:10 NHL players chasing championship dreams 24:26 Reflecting on Oilers' missed chances 27:34 Oilers' championship odds evaluation Why the Edmonton Oilers MUST Embrace the Grind to Win the Stanley Cup Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Butcher Box If you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to https://ButcherBox.com/LOCKEDONNHL to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always. Aura Aura helps protect your personal information by actively removing your data from data broker sites and keeping it off. Start your free trial today at http://aura.com/aware. Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. FanDuel Get three hundred fifty dollars in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.