BLOG: Oilers resolve to get healthy in the new year

EDMONTON, AB -With the calendar flipping over from 2022 to 2023, New Year's resolutions are a plenty.
For the Edmonton Oilers, their resolution is the same as many of ours - get healthy.
However, drinking more water or ordering less takeout won't be enough. They want to get bodies back in the lineup as they look to build their game in the second half of the NHL schedule. Based on Monday's practice at Rogers Place, they are off to a good start in 2023.
Leon Draisaitl skated with the group for the first time since getting banged up on Dec. 27 against Calgary, while Klim Kostin also joined him on the ice after looking to have sustained an injury at the end of the Oilers New Year's Eve contest against the Jets.
The Oilers have been without a multitude of players through the first 38 games of the season. Evander Kane, Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, Kailer Yamamoto, Leon Draisaitl, and Dylan Holloway have all missed time in just the forward group alone. Now as the players start trickling back into the Oilers lineup, the hope is that the benefits are seen on the ice, especially in their goal differential.
"I think that's been a focus of ours. Part of it is just returning to full health. We're still not there just yet, but we're working our way towards full health," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said after morning practice. "I think when you're coming to full health, it gets more and more competitive to be in our lineup, and people lay it on the line in a different fashion when the threat of not playing is real."

One of the players working his way back to full health is Draisaitl, who had missed the Oilers previous two contests. The German superstar skated on his own a few times and once with the Oilers Head Coach on New Year's Day as he pushes to be ready for Tuesday's rematch against the Seattle Kraken.
"I haven't followed up with him or our medical department, but I thought it was a good sign that he was on the ice," Woodcroft said about the forward's availability. "Obviously everyone witnessed his play in the playoffs last year working through some of the pain he had to endure. He's a warrior, so if he can be out there, I'm sure he'll be out there if he can."
Draisaitl spoke after practice and would not confirm his return to the lineup against a team the Oilers were still able to put seven past a few days ago without him, but things are looking up for the team's second-leading scorer.
"I think it recovered pretty well and pretty quick, maybe a little quicker than I thought it would, but I'm happy the way it's feeling," Draisaitl said.

The other Oilers player who seemingly avoided the injury bug is Klim Kostin. The emerging fan favourite crashed into the half wall in the dying seconds of the Oilers New Year's Eve contest against the Jets. Kostin was down for a little while and needed assistance leaving the ice, which it turns out was the product of a dislodged skate blade. The Oilers forward shared after the game on social media that he was feeling ready for Tuesday.
"I just remember I felt it hit the board and then extend my knee so it kind of hurt. It was hurt for a bit, but right now it feels good," Kostin said after practice. "Right after the game, I went for a workout. I feel good, so I tell TD (Forrs) that I'm ready to play next game."
If both Draisaitl and Kostin are able to suit up on Tuesday, it'll be just defenceman Ryan Murray and forward Evander Kane who remain on the Oilers injury list. Kane has been out since early November after suffering a horrific injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he has been seen skating periodically as he rehabs his wrist.
Besides health, there was one more New Year's resolution mentioned in the Oilers locker room on Monday.
"Just wishing for a lot of wins. A lot of wins coming our way," Draisaitl said. "Obviously wishing won't be enough, so we got to put in the work and get some wins here."

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