Filip Chytil, Tom Willander, and Jake DeBrusk Communicate Following Offseason Skate at Rogers Area on Wednesday

Filip Chytil stated he was feeling good and loved enjoying a full five-on-five scrimmage with the group.  

“It’s nice to see some new faces out there and see the players from last year as well,” he stated. “After a whole summer when we didn’t see each other, it was fun, and I enjoyed it a lot.”  

Chytil additionally spoke on his well being coming into the 2026-27 season.  

“I feel good. It was long, since I had [an] offseason since February, so I had a lot of time to focus on certain things, and I think it went well off the ice and on the ice as well,” stated Chytil. “I’m ready for [the] season.”  

He talked about that he noticed some specialists and received suggestions on his physique. Chytil stated it was very constructive and helped him give attention to the bodily aspect of the sport in the course of the summer time.  

Tom Willander has been having lots of enjoyable skating with the group over the previous few days, and says an enormous focus of his offseason was constructing his conditioning for a full, now 84-game NHL season.  

“I feel like last year I got a taste of how demanding the hockey is here, and so I feel like that’s something I’ve worked on a lot, and already now I feel like it’s working,” he stated.  

“I’ve been on the ice quite a bit, working on a lot of different things, obviously. But I think all the stuff in the gym certainly helps.”  

Willander spoke about what having a veteran like Luke Schenn within the room can do for him and another younger gamers.  

“Those older guys mean so much to us,” stated Willander. “Just teaching us small habits, and just pulling the group together. I think a good example is after skate yesterday; those are the guys that pull the group together to do these small conditioning stuff. You might not feel comfortable telling all the people to do that, but I think that’s very important to get the group together like that.”  

Jake DeBrusk additionally spoke to the media. He started by saying he’s had a busy summer time, however one for coaching, and that he’s able to go.  

He is worked up to observe the youthful gamers on the staff develop and develop with one other 12 months of expertise, but in addition sees the staff being more durable with the addition of Schenn and Jamie Oleksiak to the blueline.  

DeBrusk is seeking to have a bounce-back with scoring at even-strength this season, and this summer time has given him much more confidence as camp is simply across the nook.  

“I’ve been in this league for 10 years, and obviously last year the stats speak for themselves. But my confidence comes into my resume. I know I can score goals,” he stated.  

“Getting over 20, it’s not about that for me. I don’t think that I need to get that, but obviously I want more, and I scored my career high here two years ago. I’m not worried at all. That’s actually one of the things I’m excited about this season.”  

The staff continues to work as a gaggle and gel because the season approaches. All these skates will lead as much as coaching camp, which begins on September seventeenth in Penticton.