The Oilers have failed to put a decent core around McDavid and Draisitl. Once those two leave the franchise might as well cease to exist.
Seriously though, the Oilers barely survived Canada’s last economic downturn and we’re back to that environment again. The city has been pretty damned patient with that franchise, but the billion-dollar arena district is god-awful and now it’s looking like the McDavid/Draisaitl era is headed toward an ugly finish.
If they don’t turn this thing around pretty quick, you have to think both of those guys start seriously weighing their options to move on. Why wouldn’t they? What on earth would tie them to Edmonton other than sentiment, in a place where the sentiment is turning toxic?
If Draisaitl leaves, I think we have a repeat of the Gretzky trade scenario. Combined with the direction of Canada’s economy, that would put the Oilers in a pretty bad position as a franchise.