DEV CAMP: Tullio pushing to grow

EDMONTON, AB - Forward Tyler Tullio knows that in order to grow as a player and person, you're going to have to step outside of your comfort zone.
Since being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the Lakeshore, ON product has been constantly pushing his boundaries in order to be ready for his chance to play in the NHL when the opportunity arises.
The 20-year-old is attending his second Oilers Development Camp this week hoping to create new relationships, absorb as much information as he can, and take in as many new experiences as possible after finishing out his junior-hockey career with a terrific 42-goal, 86-point campaign in 65 games as captain of the OHL's Oshawa Generals.
"I think for myself right now I'm just building connections with coaches and people here that I don't really know; just getting in that 'uncomfortable comfortable' situation," he said on Monday following his first on-ice session of Development Camp.
"I'm just kind of taking everything in right now so hopefully, I'm ready when that call comes."

For Tullio, being drafted by the Oilers was a massive personal and professional milestone. But once that was out of the way and he was able to get a glimpse at what type of player the Oilers see him as for the organization in the future, the work towards establishing himself as an option to play in the NHL truly began.
"I don't put too much on my shoulders just because I was drafted. You want to always earn your stripes and those types of things, so I like to earn everything that I've been given," he said.
"Once I got drafted, it was an eye-opener for myself with the kind of game I play. They see me as a hard-working guy who can play up and down the lineup and put pucks in the net. I think that's something I've realized over the last 12 months now, and I think for myself it's just kind of keeping that going and showing everybody here that I'm ready to play in the NHL."

As an overage player and captain for the Generals this past season, Tullio channeled the extra expectation and responsibility into playing with as much confidence as he could and growing himself as a leader both offensively and in character.
Tullio tied for eighth in goals in the OHL with 42 for an Oshawa team that fell in six games to the Kingston Frontenacs in the first round of the playoffs, where the right-shot forward added another two goals and five assists in six games to close out the junior-hockey chapter of his career.
"I think just honestly getting that confidence," he said. "Obviously you're an older guy in the league, so you kind of have a lot more stuff on your shoulders. It was a lot younger league this year in the OHL, but at the same time, I didn't [think] anything like that. So I just kind of kept a straight-minded focus.
"I kind of just put my foot down and did everything I could."
With a solid understanding of his own strengths and weaknesses, Tullio sees himself making the biggest strides in the weight room training to become a much stronger player for when he enters the professional ranks full-time next season.
"Physical strength is a big thing," he said. "Playing with the best players in the world, the biggest and strongest, you obviously have to be physically ready. But I know my capabilities. I've been playing with older men my whole life and this isn't something new to me, so I think I'm ready to take the next steps."
Just as his focus remained on gaining confidence throughout this past season, Tullio will be operating with a professional mindset at Development Camp and into September's start to Main Camp in hopes of making a strong impression.
"A hundred per cent," Tullio said. "Obviously now this is my job for the next couple of years and hopefully, I do it for the rest of my life. I'm just going to do everything I can. I've got to be ready for that main camp."