32 Thoughts: The Podcast - A Conversation With McDavid and Draisaitl

Episode Date: September 17, 2025

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman sit down with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for exclusive one on one interviews.Email the podcast at [e-mail] or call the Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail.This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates

I was in this tournament last year, and I was out almost immediately because I was just whatever, playing slowly, and then you just bled out, you know, and then I just said, I'm going all in, and a couple guys called, which was fun, and I ended up winning the hand, so everyone was called me a sandbagger, but I swear I don't, don't play, I don't play poker. The headline of this podcast will be Connor McDavid, Sandbagger. Yeah, Sandbaggart and game. I'm going to I'm going to 32 Thoughts, the podcast, presented by GMC. What's going on? It's Wednesday. They said they weren't going to be back until Friday.

What happened? Well, Elliot and I got a chance to spend the day Tuesday in Edmonton at Oilers Media Day doing a few more interviews, similar to what we were doing last week in Vegas. Among them, Leon Drysidal and Connor McDavid. And given the fact that 97 remains one. one of the biggest stories going in hockey right now, as everyone's wondering what he's thinking and what the future holds for the Oilers captain

and the Oilers themselves. We thought, why wait? Let's get these interviews out to you now while they're hot and ready and fresh off the recording table. So, no preamble, no nonsense. Let's get to them right here. We'll begin with the Oilers Captain and Leon Drysidal on 32 thoughts.

So, Connor, I first wanted to ask you, what's the bigger adrenaline rush? The walk from the dress room to the ice at Rogers for a playoff game or the walkout with Morgan Wallam in the night. I got to go with the playoffs, but the walkout with Morgan

was pretty special. Yeah, I mean, it's a different type of energy. I'm sure it doesn't get old for him, walking into these crowds. And it was pretty funny. He was telling me that it was only a few years, maybe more than a few years ago, but he was opening at Roe's.

Rogers for somebody and now he's you know back-to-back night selling out commonwealth 65,000 so amazing to see what he's done in his career and and and how much love the fans have for him it's it was pretty fun to be a part of nice did you get like a chance to chat with them a little bit before it all went chat with them a little bit beforehand yeah um but also understanding that you know that's their pre-game you know I'm not sure I'd love having people in our room two minutes before walking out to a playoff game so um they're getting ready to go to work um it's what they do um so having respect for that and and and making sure that you know they're obviously getting themselves ready to go um but yeah i got a chance to just kind of chat with him and his band and uh yeah

really uh really loved it just kind of sure honestly like do you did they come to you and ask you or did you make it be known that you would love to do it like how does that happen um i guess that's It's an agent thing, you know. I'm not sure. Obviously, we were going to go no matter what. You know, Morgan Wallen coming to Edmonton, we were not sure what he was thinking, but we're like, it's great for us. We're going to go.

And then, you know, my agency's kind of, you know, we're asking if it was something I would like to do and was for sure, yeah. So, yeah. Okay, so I was in the Marriott lobby last night late, and there were a bunch of guys that came back in from a poker tournament. I guess there was a charity poker tournament last night.

And they said they were at your table. And they said that they asked you if you play cards and you said no. And they said he's sandbagged us. First hand he went all in just to see who at the table had any guts and it was a player.

Is that true? I don't play a ton of... I don't play any poker really. Okay. Yeah, I was just... I was in this tournament last year, and I was out almost immediately because I was just whatever, playing slowly, and then you just bled out, you know,

and then I just said, I'm going all in, and a couple guys called, which was fun, and I ended up winning the hand, so everyone was calling me a sandbagger, but I swear I don't play. I don't play poker. The headline of this podcast will be Connor McDavid, Sandbagger. Yeah, Sandbaggart and gambler.

I'm not straight. How are you feeling, Connor, just about everything? I mean, obviously, it's been the same questions as the last few weeks about what you're thinking and what could be coming. How do you feel about it all? I feel good. I feel, you know, focused on the year.

My body feels good. I'm excited to get going, excited to get camp going, and getting into the routine of things. And as far as all that other stuff goes, is it, you know, just, yeah, I'm not focused on it. It's a plan is the easy part, so we're getting to the easy part here. Business before pleasure, like, has anything changed? Should we be prepared for a signing in the near future or anything?

Nothing's changed as of now. You know, as I said all along, you know, I've said since June, I'm going to take my time with it, and I still intend to do that. It's a big decision. It's not something I take lightly or my family takes life. lately. As I said to Rishag, you know, it's everything in my life's been building to be here and be in this position and be in this moment. And it's not something that I'm just going to dream up and decide, you know, I'm going to think it over. And we have been and we'll continue to do so. I admit, I'm surprised. Like, I thought we'd get here and there would be something. Should I be surprised? Should I be surprised? Like, am I wrong? Or is anybody who's surprised wrong to be surprised?

No, I don't think so. I don't, you know, I think everybody's entitled to think whatever they want. I think people just kind of assume that things were going to happen and, you know, it just goes to show that not everybody knows exactly what's going on, you know? You know, my wife I obviously love being here in Emmington and we have every intention, as I said, to win here in Emmington and had all the faith in the world

in this 25, 26 season and beyond that still remains to be seen. We have time. We have all the it's our decision, basically. We've earned that. And we're going to take our time with it.

I guess the last one for me on this, Connor, is just what do you want to see? Like when I'm sure you've told the Oilers, this is important to me. This is what gets me to commit for however long I decide to commit. What is that? Yeah, that's a good question. You know, truthly, what do I need to see? I guess the answer is nothing, you know, all the pieces are here. for 25, 26, it's going to be a feeling, you know, it's going to be a, you know, it's going to be a, you know, when the time's right, the moment's right, I think it'll just be a feeling.

But as of right now, just excited to get the season going, really. I was reminded of when you first came into the NHL, that, feature that 60 Minutes did on you. And at one point, you're asked about just how you're burning a desire to win, even from when you were a young kid, and you'd send something the effect of, no, nobody wants to be second place. And I just wonder, Connor, like how the last two years have ended, how that's changed you, how that's changed how you view winning. Yeah, I think it's only made us more motivated in that room, getting so close twice, and falling short, just made us more motivated, you know. I think,

said this in another interview but I feel like people think that the Edmontonolers are just this heartbroken wounded team but I really feel that you know the last two years have been great been really good we've won a lot of big games

we've had a lot of special moments together we've grown a lot together we've learned a lot together and I think that we'll be better for it moving forward my room's as motivated as ever what's the biggest thing that's changed in you over the past two years aside from even more burning desire to win um i think just having an understanding of of uh what it takes i mean i think

everyone you know you understand what it takes and and then you go through it and um there's even an element that you didn't think about or an element you didn't know And we've gone through it a couple of years, you know, the last four years. You know, Western Conference Final, lose to the Vegas. We felt like we were right there with them. If we could have got through Vegas, we feel like we were right there. You know, obviously the last two years going to the finals, like this is something that we're building here.

We've been building for a long time. And we feel like, you know, the time is now. I'm curious about when you talked to last month, just the whole idea of trying to peak twice this year, knowing the Olympics are coming in February and what do you want to accomplish in the spring. A player of your caliber, like, how do you try to map that out without being burnt out in November? Yeah, that's a good question. Definitely something that I didn't do well last year. Came out of that Four Nations break and was just flat, you know, took me a few weeks to get my. myself going again. So understanding that there may be those moments, there may be those

little lulls after, not accepting them, but working through them and figuring that out. But wouldn't trade that for anything, you know, the Four Nations was so much fun. You know, it was funny, like, before the tournament, guys were planning their trips. And there's always inevitably a little bit of like a, not a dip, but just everybody's a little bit more relaxed. And, you know, we'll get through this one and off we go. But I think for me and for the guys that were going to the tournament, it was like this is our last like preseason game, you know?

Like we got to get ourselves going. And there was some frustration in that, wanting to be at this level. But needing to stay patient, I guess. But, yeah, all learning, experiences and hopefully something I can use this year. You know, you said that it was like the, I can't remember the exact phrase you used, but you talked glowingly at the Olympic camp about what the hockey was like.

And for those of us who watched it, like it was incredible hockey. But can you go into that a little bit more? Like, what did you love about it? What did you see about the Four Nations? Yeah, I think for the average fan, there was times it may have seemed boring, you know, because it was so, such a high level. so tight checking. You have to have an appreciation for that type of hockey. So many good players out there that are all trying to make things happen all while having so much respect for the

other side that you don't want to give them a chance either. So it was definitely the highest level hockey I've ever played. I would think that guys that played in that tournament were all say the same thing. You know, Sid alluded to how fast it was. It's the fastest hockey I've been part of um i would expect the olympics to be the same way really um it was really fun to be part of you know there's not many players out there they can look at a hundred point season and say afterwards like i i feel i've got more there like leon was just in here he said there's a little bit of a different look in your eyes um so how would you describe just how you've set your mind for everything you would like to accomplish yeah you know i said in an interview earlier that i feel like

i've got lots to prove and i still i feel that way you know um Yeah, last year was good, but it wasn't the level that I expect to be at and expect for myself. So I want to have a great year. I'd love to, you know, the team to put themselves in a division to play at home every series. I'd love to obviously win a gold medal at the Olympics and, you know, you guys understand the rest. So that's the year that I'm expecting and working towards.

I don't know anything here, Elliot. That's your business. Well, we could say that about everything. I do know the correct pronunciation of Puma. Other than that, I am out too much. You are wrong and the Prince Albert Raiders are wrong. It's Puma. quickly becoming my favorite team in the Western Hockey League, the PA Raiders.

That was excellent, guys, so good. Okay, my theory was, again, don't have any inside knowledge on what's going on here. I won't pretend to confess or have any sense of what Connor McDavid is truly thinking. Listening to him not only Tuesday with us, but the interviews the last couple of weeks where he's been asked about his future, but it really hit me sitting across from him in person. He looks like a guy and sounds like a guy that knows exactly what he is going to do. He has no problem field in the questions about it.

He looks like in his mind, he knows. No, he said it's a big decision. Certainly there's been a lot of conversations, as he's alluded to with the people in his tight-knit circle about what's best. But he looked like a guy who was very much at peace and confidence with where this was all going to go. What do you think?

Well, do you have any predictions? I think he's going to stay. Whether it's two years, three years, not going to try to dissect that part. But I think he's staying. I think there's, and when exactly does the news get announced? Not going to try that either. But after I was like you,

surprised we got to September and nothing had been done, I think something's going to get done here. in Edmonton. I agree with that. I agree it's not long term, but I'm sticking with my prediction. I always stick with my predictions until I'm proven wrong,

which happens often, but I'm still going with short-term deal in Edmonton and nothing that I heard there changes my opinion. All right. Anything else on Connor before we get to Leon? He was good.

He was good. So is Leon. Drysettel, always appreciate the chance to hear his thoughts on a wide variety of things here on Tuesday, Elliot. He was in a good mood. And we learned he was the first interview we got. We learned that that was no coincidence that he was one of the first guys at the rink on Tuesday. So here's our conversation with Leon Drysiddle of the Edmonton Oilers. So Leon, you've captured the Art Ross.

You have a Hart Trophy to your name. You have a Rockerichard Trophy to your name. You've got long-term financial security, but I wonder is the true hallmark feeling of I made it coming in the form of being featured in a clue on Jeopardy? Yeah, I've been sent that one quite a lot the last couple of weeks. It was pretty funny, yeah. It was, I would say I've officially made it, yeah.

Were you upset that they didn't know the answer? I was a little disappointed, yeah, especially Winnipeg. Like, come on. But, no, I was good. I'm happy to be a part of that one. Yes, right. And now the category should have been Canadian wives instead of girlfriend. So congratulations on the wedding.

Like, how did it all go? It was amazing. It was honestly the greatest weekend of our lives. You know, obviously having all your favorite people in one place for three days is, yeah, it was awesome. It was magical. was great. Food was great. Vives were really high, so it was a great time. You know, I guess it was a great wedding. Before the interview we started, we asked you, because normally the bride and the groom were so stressed out, they want to make sure everybody else is having a great time. She

always asked, who was the star guest? And you said yourself, you're the first groom I've ever heard who said that they were the star guest at their own wedding. No, I mean, well, you asked me who was the first star. Okay, yes. Right? Okay, yes. First star. Yeah, I would put myself up there, but there was a lot of guys that had a great showing. There's a lot of guys that went all out and, you know, didn't disappoint. They travel a long ways. They came in hot. You know, I have to say that photo of you that went out there, you know, when I first saw it, first of all, I laughed my head off.

And secondly, it kind of reminded me of like Sinatra in the 60s when he was at the peak of his power leading the rat pack in Hollywood. Like, if I was you, I would get that picture blown up and leave it somewhere prominent in my home. Yeah, I'm going to do that. That's actually a great idea. Obviously, yeah, I had a little fun with it, and it was just a great night. And, yeah, I might have to, you know, blow that picture up and hanging up somewhere.

How do you feel? Like, just another short off season? Yeah, yeah. I don't mind it. Usually a good sign. I also still think that you get enough time to rest, you get enough time to really work on whatever you feel like you need to work on. So I feel really good.

I'm very excited to get going now. How did you decompress? Like I felt like the way last season ended, the different kind of emotions from you guys compared to a year previous. Yeah, certainly different emotions. I think last year, obviously, it being a first time. And seemingly to me, I think we were a lot closer last year than this year.

I think that, obviously, when you're in the Stanley Cup finals, you're a great team, and we were a great team. I just think that in the big moments, Florida, was just a little bit better than us in a lot of aspects. And I think we were closer last year than we were, sorry, two years ago than last year. There seems to be a big sense of that, Leon, Like a year ago, you guys were disappointed. You were crushed.

You got to game seven. And I heard that the prevailing sentiment after last year was more mad. Like, we blew this one. Yeah. Yeah, I wouldn't say we blew this one. I'm sorry. I came out, that came out really badly. Yeah.

We didn't gain control where we could. Yeah, yeah. I think you mean two years ago. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, I think that one was just, you know, we felt like we had all the momentum. going into game seven, and, you know, we're this far away from going up in the second period. Puck trickles by, puck goes the other way.

It's 2-1, right? Like, those are the moments you think about, blah, blah, blah. It didn't happen. Who cares? But, yeah, it just felt like last year, or two years ago, sorry, we were just a touch closer to actually getting it done. All right. Going, sitting here right now on the eve of training camp, like, could you have envisioned, how do you feel about Connor's situation?

Like, I know, because I remember after you had signed that, you said, hey, I want to do it with them. Like, are you surprised at all that we're here on the eve of camp and what's going on? I don't know if surprise is the right word. You know, I know how this process goes, and I've said it for my own process. this is everyone's decision, everyone's process is different, right? He's got a different timeline. I don't really know, to be honest, what is really going on between them or what they're at or what they're not at.

I don't know, but I wouldn't say I'm nervous about it or anything like that. I obviously hope that it gets done. I hope that something, you know, will show up and get done in the next little bit here. And then if it doesn't, then, you know, that's his right and his decision as well. So, yeah, I think there's a lot of factors that play into it. I think a lot of us thought when you signed, you never would have signed if you were unsure about Connor. Are we wrong to think that? I don't know if you're wrong to think that again.

like maybe they're just not in as much of a rush right like maybe there's just maybe Connor doesn't care about people there's always this this this thought about like oh he doesn't want to interrupt anything like he doesn't he doesn't want to drag this into this season like but what what's he interrupting he's not there's no it's not interrupting anything right like this is two sides negotiating whatever that they're negotiating so um Yeah, I'm still obviously very confident and, you know, hope something gets done soon. So you don't feel like this could be a distraction for the rest of the guys in the room? No, I don't think so at all.

If anything, the media is going to make a distraction, but not within our room. We have one job. We're excited to start up again and create our team and create our dynamic. within our team and what type of team we're going to be. So he's obviously going to be a part of that. So, like, we understand how close the two of you are. I wonder, like, just over a year ago, when you were going through your negotiation, I mean, how often did he talk to you about that?

Yeah, not a lot, to be honest. I haven't really talked with him about it at all. Again, it's his decision. It's his family's decision, whatever they want. want to do. It was my decision when it was my time. And there's nothing that he could have said or done to change my mind, right? Of course, there's, you know, a conversation about it every once in a while, but it's not like we talk about it every week. Like, I'm not texting him. It's like, hey, where are you at? Like, what's going on? It doesn't, it's not like that, right? I give

them a space. I give them their time. They're going to figure it out. And obviously, I'll be very, very happy when it does get done. Connor said a couple of weeks last week with Mark Specter and he wants to get back to being like a 50 goal scorer again. Remember he had his first, I think his first 50 goal

season after you said publicly Connor you can score more. 64. That's right. And so I always wonder like what did you tell him this off season? I mean you guys obviously vacation together, you train together. You're one of his best motivators.

So I wonder what you guys hold each other after us? Yeah, we haven't really talked about it that much. I think it's kind of the thing. It goes without saying, right? Like, he's done it. He gets more opportunities at net than any player in the league, just by his speed, just by what he's able to create.

I think it's just a mindset for him to, I hate the word selfish, but it is selfishness. He gets so many two-on-one, so many breakaways, more than any player in the league. So if the play is not there to your partner, shoot it, put it in. Like, it's over, right? So, yeah, I think he's going to certainly crash 50 again this year, just by his mind being in that mindset a little bit. Who scores more this year? You or him?

It's a good question. I don't know. I'd be okay with having more assists this year. You can have it if you want to, yeah. Okay with that, yeah. But, like, knowing him as well as you do, I wonder just when you had said about, like, where his mind is at,

what are sort of the things that you see from him, whether it's early on in a year, a training camp midway through the season where you're like, oh, he's wired a little different, Yeah, I think he's just really determined right now. He's had a great summer of training. I would say probably a lot better than last summer. So he looks really good, which is scary. And yeah, I think he's going to have a really big year. I think he's going to have a really big year. Of course, You know, when he personally has great years, you know, it helps a team. We're a better team if he's better. So he's had a great summer.

He looks really good. And there's just something about his eyes that, you know, there's a lot of fire in it right now. You know, obviously a lot is being counted on by Savoy and by Howard to come in and be players on this team. Just the captain skates. What have you seen? Like, do you look at those two guys and say, we've got something here? Yeah, I haven't skated a lot with Howard because he came in a little bit later, but Savvy's been here for a while, so I've been skating with him for about three weeks,

and he looks good, looks really good. I think he's got everything you need to be a really impactful NHL player. Obviously, he's young still. Sometimes it takes a couple of years to get used to the speed, the travel, and all these things. But I got really high hopes for him. He looks really good. And then the Iceman. The Iceman, that's what he's going on.

Yeah, the Iceman. We'll see, you know, obviously he's played college. He's never played pro. So there might be a bit of an adjustment time. You never know. But, you know, we're certainly confident in him to do something and help us out. All right. Last one for me, when we were told we had you this morning,

someone said, not a surprise. Leon's always the first one here. Is that true and B, who's the second one here? Yeah, I would say that I'm probably the first guy at the rink most mornings. Certainly for games, I'm always first by a good 20 minutes. Wow. Yeah, yeah. I get to the rink really, really.

Can't function on getting rushed, hated. Really? Yeah, I tap out, I can't do it. I need time, I need everything to be settled, and always kind of be. been that way. I have it from my dad. He's the same way. Oh, really?

Who's second? Picks comes really early. Kelvin Pickard and then Potsie. Okay. But Goulson, yeah. He comes early, yeah. So I would say the three of us are first three to be at the rink. So what do you take the most time with?

Is it getting your body ready? Is it preparing your sticks? Or what do you like to... Yeah, I think all of that together. You know, getting the body ready, taping sticks, getting your gear ready. Yeah, I guess you could call it a little bit of hockey OCD when it comes to that. You know, I like, like I said, just not being rushed, having my time, having my routine and doing it, you know, every morning is the same way.

So I'm a big fan of that, yeah. The grades are like that. Yeah, the grades are like that. Thanks very much, Leon. Thank you. Have a great season. Okay, that will do it for this special edition, midweek interview pod for us. I wanted to thank the Edmonton Oilers, Dee Hambly, and her group at Sports.

Net for looking after us, making the shots look good, make everything sounds good. Elliot and I would be hopeless without the team that we have around us. For producer, Dom Shammati, Elliot Friedman. 100%, I say. You are totally right about that. Yes, yes. For Dom Shammati, Elliot Friedman and myself, I appreciate you listening along to a special surprise pod. I don't think we have any more plan before Friday, so we'll plan to talk to you then.

Enjoy the rest of your week. Thank you.