It&#8217;s beginning to feel a lot like hockey season.
The Edmonton Oilers gave their fans a nice surprise on Monday by posting photos of <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-leon-draisaitl-among-oilers-edmonton-practicing-before-training-camp">players hitting the ice at the Downtown Community Arena</a>, located adjacent to Rogers Place.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The boys are back in town: a thread 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/XvyW147bMl">pic.twitter.com/XvyW147bMl</a>
&mdash; Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1962633725956796924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOE0WlZkrSA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">Photos on Instagram</a> included Connor McDavid, who was joined on the ice by teammates Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Trent Frederic, Noah Philp, Calvin Pickard, Max Jones, and Matt Savoie.
Other names included newly signed Andrew Mangiapane and David Tomasek. There was also a sighting of defenceman Alec Regula, the defenceman who was claimed off waivers last season from the Boston Bruins, wearing number 75. He missed all of last season dealing with an injury.
With that being said, fans shared their opinions online about the players returning to Edmonton, many of which were about the captain&#8217;s contract status.
<blockquote>HOCKEY IS ALIVE AND WELL &#8211; @birds3yeview via X
Please PLEASE let this man (Connor McDavid) re-sign before the season. This team does not need that dark cloud hanging over them. &#8211; @Denny_Sawchuk via X
Announce the extension, Admin!!!! &#8211; @AustinHockeyYT via X
It&#8217;s the most wonderful tiiiiiiiiiiime of the yeeeeaaaaaaarrrrrrr &#8211; Tewasiuk via Instagram
So the McDavid extension will be announced once he walks on stage with Morgan Wallen on Night 1 of his tour, right? &#8211; Mark1bel1 via Instagram
I&#8217;m so used to Drai&#8217;s big paddle that when I saw his shovel i just assumed it was his hockey stick. &#8211; dtano55 via Instagram</blockquote>
While it&#8217;s nice that the Oilers have begun skating early in September, many fans are more focused on McDavid signing an extension. There have been rumours circulating that he may <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/a-real-possibility-edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-enter-season-without-extension">enter the season without one</a>, while rumours indicated that he would sign before the start of training camp. However, the Oilers faithful remain patient and confident that a deal will get done. It&#8217;s just a matter of when at this point.
The Oilers will officially begin training camp on September 17, and they&#8217;ll play their <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/10-edmonton-oilers-storylines-2025-26-season">first pre-season game</a> on Sunday, September 21, with two split-squad games against the Flames. Until then, more players are expected to return to Edmonton to prepare for the 2025-26 campaign.

It's beginning to feel a lot like hockey season.
The Edmonton Oilers gave their fans a nice surprise on Monday by posting photos of <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-leon-draisaitl-among-oilers-edmonton-practicing-before-training-camp">players hitting the ice at the Downtown Community Arena</a>, located adjacent to Rogers Place.


https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1962633725956796924

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOE0WlZkrSA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">Photos on Instagram</a> included Connor McDavid, who was joined on the ice by teammates Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Trent Frederic, Noah Philp, Calvin Pickard, Max Jones, and Matt Savoie.

Other names included newly signed Andrew Mangiapane and David Tomasek. There was also a sighting of defenceman Alec Regula, the defenceman who was claimed off waivers last season from the Boston Bruins, wearing number 75. He missed all of last season dealing with an injury.

With that being said, fans shared their opinions online about the players returning to Edmonton, many of which were about the captain's contract status.
<blockquote>HOCKEY IS ALIVE AND WELL - @birds3yeview via X

Please PLEASE let this man (Connor McDavid) re-sign before the season. This team does not need that dark cloud hanging over them. - @Denny_Sawchuk via X

Announce the extension, Admin!!!! - @AustinHockeyYT via X

It's the most wonderful tiiiiiiiiiiime of the yeeeeaaaaaaarrrrrrr - Tewasiuk via Instagram

So the McDavid extension will be announced once he walks on stage with Morgan Wallen on Night 1 of his tour, right? - Mark1bel1 via Instagram

I'm so used to Drai's big paddle that when I saw his shovel i just assumed it was his hockey stick. - dtano55 via Instagram</blockquote>
While it's nice that the Oilers have begun skating early in September, many fans are more focused on McDavid signing an extension. There have been rumours circulating that he may <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/a-real-possibility-edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-enter-season-without-extension">enter the season without one</a>, while rumours indicated that he would sign before the start of training camp. However, the Oilers faithful remain patient and confident that a deal will get done. It's just a matter of when at this point.

The Oilers will officially begin training camp on September 17, and they'll play their <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/10-edmonton-oilers-storylines-2025-26-season">first pre-season game</a> on Sunday, September 21, with two split-squad games against the Flames. Until then, more players are expected to return to Edmonton to prepare for the 2025-26 campaign.

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