Connor McDavid Loving His New Teammate

Connor McDavid is ready for the 2020-21 NHL season and he's happy to be around his teammates again. Not only are the Oilers expecting big things from McDavid, it's one of his new but old teammates who is turning heads early on in training camp. Jesse Puljujarvi has not only changed his number, he's changed his game and the Oilers brass including McDavid love to see it.

McDavid met with the media on Friday and had this to say about Puljujarvi's game and what it means to the Oilers moving forward:

He's a huge part of our team. I think if he can make strides like he looks like he has then that's big for our team ... I think (it's) just communicating with him, keeping his confidence up. He's got the biggest smile and is such a happy guy playing hockey. He loves the game, loves to be out there so you've just got to keep that love for the game. I mean you could see he was probably losing it a little bit at the end of his time with us in his first stint, so it's great to see him come back and look so excited and so happy playing the game.

This second chance is music to the ears of the 22-year-old Puljujarvi who was initially rushed into the NHL as a 19-year-old and this time around he's more polished, better prepared, and being put in the proper situation to succeed.

Smart move by the Oilers and smart move by Puljujarvi to head overseas, play some meaningful minutes and head back to Edmonton a better player and a better person.

Expect some decent numbers this year from the newly minted #13 for the Oilers.

Photo credit:  Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire