The tenacity is intact, but it was certainly a leaner version of Luke Gazdic that strolled into the Servus Credit Union Place on Tuesday to take part in the Edmonton Oilers hockey school.
Gazdic, like several of his teammates, will report to training camp in the fall intent on making the kind of impression that will lead to steady playing time.
There’s now a new coaching staff under Todd McLellan; a new management structure under Peter Chiarelli; and new players to get into the lineup.
“It’s just a matter of coming in and showing that I’ve made strides over the off-season to be a better player,” said Gazdic, the 25-year-old winger who has proven he’s a capable pugilist since the Oilers plucked him off the waiver wire in the fall of 2013.