How do you build THAT bad of a team around McDavid? In hindsight, if he "only" had a Hart worthy season last season, instead of the best season in recent memory, they probably miss the playoffs.
1. Terrible cap management. They have made some horrific unforced errors (Ceci, Kulak, Kane to an extent), and unfortunately, they whiffed on Campbell in the worst way. Nurse was extended at what was about the worst possible moment for the team.
2. They might as well not dress more than their top 5 forwards. Their depth is basically non-existent, and they haven't done that good a job addressing that issue.
3. As good as Ekholm is, they lack that #1 stalwart on the back-end. Many do, but with their superstars up front, it really shows in this case.
Looking at recent contenders and Cup winners (Boston, Carolina, Vegas, Colorado in 2022, Tampa, even Pittsburgh), none of them have been as top-heavy as the Oilers are right now. Drai and McDavid have averaged 22 minutes a night for years now - at some point, that has to become a burden. They have no support for those two after RNH, Hyman and Kane, nor can they afford that anyway. If one of them has an off-game, how do you compensate? As for the goaltending, I'd imagine there will be some mean reversion at some point, but holy shit, is it ever bad right now.
If only Oscar Klefbom hadn't crumbled down with his never-ending injuries, McDavid could already have won his Cups. He was the young minute-munching defenseman that they only managed to replace last Spring with Ekholm, and he was locked up at a crazily good contract to boot. With a healthy Klefbom, Nurse likely doesn't get his overpayment, and he might have had an easier role too. What could have been...