Luke Gazdic on Oilers finally making playoff push

BY CHRIS LOMON

TORONTO – Luke Gazdic knows the time for talk is over for the Edmonton Oilers. 

“Fans were coming up, all over the city, saying the same thing – they’re ready to get this thing going. So are we,” he said.

Did not qualify. For the past nine NHL seasons, those are the three words associated with the Oilers when it comes to the playoffs. It’s also the longest current playoff drought in the league.

Players and fans, understandably, are tired of taking it on the chin. Just ask one of the toughest players in the league.

“The conversations we’ve (Oilers players) have had this summer, it’s all about how excited everyone is,” said Gazdic, who was claimed on waivers by Edmonton in September of 2013. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a buzz like this. I was in Edmonton for a week this summer helping out at a hockey school and the atmosphere around the city is incredible.”

Gazdic also got a first-hand look at Connor McDavid, the team’s No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft, at the recent BioSteel Hockey Camp that took place in Toronto.

The 18-year-old, tabbed as the best player to hit NHL ice since Sidney Crosby burst into the league a decade ago, combined with another No. 1 pick, Oilers teammate Taylor Hall, to net a nifty two-on-none goal during a four-on-four tournament at BioSteel. The tally drew a big reaction from players and those in the stands.

“It would be great to see plenty more of that,” Gazdic said with a smile.

The Toronto native knows he’s not the only one.

“I’ve only been here two years,” he said. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for guys like Taylor and Jordan Eberle – who have been here longer than me – hearing those same things, about expectation. It’s tough losing as much as we did, especially with the team we had and the expectations we set. I know Oilers fans are hungry to see things change.”

Gazdic is eager to be part of it all. He also knows precisely what he has to do in order to achieve that goal.

“I’m coming to fight for a job and get a roster spot,” he offered. “I put the work in this summer. I really put the work in on and off the ice. I feel good. Not just about myself, but about this team. There have been so many changes, within the organization, and with the lineup. With all that comes a lot of expectation. But, it’s something we should be looking forward to. For us, it’s time now to take our talking to the ice and step our game."

An award-nominated writer, Chris Lomon contributes feature stories to a number of magazines and websites, including Yahoo! Sports (Canada) and NHLPA.com. He has written numerous articles for horse racing publications over the years and has been nominated for a Sovereign Award (feature writing category) on three occasions. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisLomon.

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