Mark Letestu of the Edmonton Oilers spoke with the media after a skate earlier this week, an interview that was published to Oilers TV. The center addressed the topics of Leon Draisaitl, team expectations heading into the 2017/18 season, and Oiler prospect Jesse Puljujarvi as Edmonton prepare for upcoming preseason games.
Letestu happy for Draisailtl, glad he's a long-term Oiler
Regarding Draisaitl, Letestu said that the Oiler forward "had a better summer than most," a comment that refers to Draisaitl's lengthy and large contract to play with the Edmonton Oilers.
Draisaitl himself spoke about the contract a couple days ago with the media and claimed that he didn't feel extra pressure. Letestu claimed the Oilers were happy for Draisaitl and him, Letestu, said that the most important thing was that Draisaitl was going to be an Oiler for the long term.
On the topic of team expectations, that the Oilers enter the 2017/18 season as Stanley Cup contenders is something new for the city, at least this century. But Letestu seemed to think that the expectations aren't out of the blue simply due to the fact that Edmonton is a city where hockey reigns supreme among sports.
The former member of the New York Islanders also stated that Edmonton is a city where the local NHL team is expected to do well.
He did mention that "the stakes are a little higher" at this point, probably referencing the investments that the Oilers have made to make themselves competitive, but he didn't seem bothered by those increased stakes. Rather he seemed to appreciate playing in an environment where there were tough goals and he claimed that the Oilers, as a team, had ones that were independent of the more general expectations.
Wants Puljujarvi to stick around
Letestu also addressed Jesse Puljujarvi, a 19 year old player with the Oilers that spent most of last season in the American Hockey League. Commenting on the skate around, Letestu said "he looks good out there right now." Previously, Letestu remarked that he would like for him "to be ready to be here for the full 82." Last season Puljujarvi started with the Edmonton Oilers but only lasted 28 games before being sent down in what was one of the bigger disappointments among Oiler players last year.
However Puljujarvi himself has stated that his English has improved and he is a year better now. The Oilers' preseason schedule starts at on September 18th with a split-squad game against the Calgary Flames.
