Christmas has officially arrived, the wrapping paper carnage is well underway at the Castle Milk, and the coffee is doing some heavy lifting after a long night of appetizers and cocktails. But before the day gets away from us, I wanted to pop in and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas on behalf of all of us at Oilersnation. No matter where you’re reading this from or who you’re spending the day with, I hope it’s the kind of Christmas filled with good people and a dose of well-earned downtime.

After another year of riding the highs and lows of the Edmonton Oilers winds to a close, it always amazes me how the conversations around this team never get old, nor do they ever stop. Whether we’re celebrating wins or milestones, arguing about contracts, or going twelve rounds over line combinations, this community continues to be the best part of our entire operation. You all care deeply about this team, you show up every day, and you keep this place alive in a way that is as beautiful to me now as it was 18 years ago when we started.

Oilersnation doesn’t work without the Nation Citizens. Full stop. The comments, the debates, the social posts, the podcasts in your ears on the commute, the merch, the trips, the emails back and forth, it all adds up. I know I say this every year, but I’m incredibly lucky to get to do this job, and I never want to lose sight of the fact that our gig only exists because you choose to spend some of your time here with us. Without all of you, we’d be talking to no one, and it’s important that everyone reading this knows how special it is from our side of that laptop screen that we get to experience this ride together.

Even with a few days off in the Oilers’ schedule, we’ll still have plenty of content rolling out over the holidays to keep everyone informed and also to give you something to read while hiding from dishes or pretending not to hear someone ask you for a favour. No matter what is going on at your place, we’re going to do our best to keep you entertained between naps. Whether you’re here to talk about the Oilers, the World Juniors, or take runs at what moves Stan Bowman should make next, I want to thank you for your time and your energy. We know there are plenty of places to get Oilers news, but it means the world to us to be part of your routine. Thank you a million times over.

With that out of the way, it’s time for me to get on with my day and get to some important items on my to-do list. Baileys will be consumed, Die Hard will be watched without apology because it is, in fact, a Christmas movie, and at some point in the afternoon, I will take a nap that rivals death. Christmas traditions matter, after all, and if you’ve been following this team for a while, you already know how important consistency can be.

Enjoy the day, everyone. Take the break if you can, hug your people, eat way too much, and do all of the things that help you recharge. Merry Christmas, and thanks for making this community what it is.