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It started with video sessions and hard laps and concluded yesterday with a three-on-three tournament and good spirits.
The Edmonton Oilers won't know until next week whether their mini camp actually served a purpose, but by all accounts it was more medicinal than rounds of golf.
"I think in terms in how we can judge ourselves at this point, I think we accomplished what we set out to do," said Oilers associate coach Tom Renney. "But I think the proof will be how we come out and compete in our next hockey game and what we've been able to make out of these three days because of it."
The message wasn't getting through, at least not on a consistent basis.
So with a break in the schedule, the Oilers decided to get back to basics in an effort to salvage a season that is quickly spiraling down the drain.
A planned retreat to Palms Springs was cancelled and instead the team went to work on trying to find solutions to their problems.
Currently, they're last in the Western Conference standings, 16 points out of a playoff spot, so there were plenty of issues to deal with.
They're looking at their contest against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday as a fresh start.
"Our intentions with this next game is to look at it as Game 1," Renney said.
"We have to build the balance of our season in a way to suggest that we're committed, we're intelligent enough to deal with all circumstances, that we find a way to win and just continue to improve ourselves.
"The bottom line is that we haven't got the type of footing that we're looking for. We haven't had the type of traction that we needed to pull through those tough times.
"At the very least we want to make sure we continue to develop and build character."
