Few have triumphed. Draisaitl will now play his first NHL game — an exhibition game tonight against Vancouver — with two new linemates,

Hockey operations CEO Jeff Jackson heard the coach’s message loud and clear heading into July 1. Acting as Edmonton Oilers GM after Ken Holland’s departure, he signed veteran winger Jeff Skinner. It’s Skinner — along with fellow signee Viktor Arvidsson — who’ll flank Draisaitl to start the season.

Jeff Skinner has played in 1,006 NHL regular-season games. He has scored 357 goals, including a 40-goal season. He has 313 assists, topped 60 points five times, including an 82-point season. But in 14 NHL seasons,

Both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will take the ice tonight against the Vancouver Canucks for the team's final home game of the pre-season. This will be our first chance to see Draisaitl next to his new linemates Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson.

It may have been a victory, but the Edmonton Oilers feel they are still very much a work in progress. Leon Draisaitl scored the shootout winner on a slapshot as the Oilers won their second straight pre-season game,