Leon Draisaitl

Stan Bowman is having the kind of summer that general managers dream about, and the Edmonton Oilers are reaping the benefits of his work at the trade deadline and free agency. After years of scrutiny over his roster construction decisions, the Oilers' GM appears to have finally cracked the code on building around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Leon Draisaitl and his fellow NHL players just caught a break that wasn't on anyone's radar heading into the offseason. The Oilers superstar is among the beneficiaries of an unexpected payday that's putting extra cash in players' pockets across the league. This kind of surprise money doesn't happen often in professional sports, and it's the kind of story that gets players talking in the locker room.

Leon Draisaitl knows that winning in Edmonton means maximizing every advantage, and that includes how he spends his summers away from the grind. The German sniper and his wife Celeste have found their ideal offseason retreat in the heart of Kenya, where they're soaking in some of the continent's most stunning natural landscapes.

The Oilers have built something special around McDavid and Draisaitl, but their prospect system needs an infusion of offensive talent to stay competitive long-term. Edmonton's front office faces a critical question about how to add high-end skill forwards to a pipeline that's been thin on future scoring depth. The moves they make now could determine whether this window stays open or quietly closes in a few years.

Vasily Podkolzin's arrival in Edmonton comes with a familiar refrain from the Oilers organization - talent is never the question, but whether a player can embrace the accountability culture that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl demand. The Russian winger has the skill set to thrive in an NHL top-six role, but the Oilers have learned the hard way that raw ability means nothing without the right mindset.

The Oilers have made a significant move to bolster their Stanley Cup credentials, and one key player is sending an unmistakable message about his commitment to the cause. With Edmonton's window of opportunity wide open around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the organization is leaving nothing to chance in their pursuit of the franchise's first championship since 1990.