Is this the closet Connor McDavid gonna get to a Stanley Cup?

[PuckFather]

We could easily retool and be better next season... still got all the core guys.

Drai
McD
Bouch
Hyman
RNH
Ek

Hollo and Bro played big minutes and look to be locks for lineup next season. Buyout Campbell.

Fire Holland, get a smart GM and we should be just fine tbh.

You forgot to mention Nurse & Jack Campbell.

 

[Czechboy]

You forgot to mention Nurse & Jack Campbell.

I was talking about core guys.

 

[AD1066]

He brought that Edmonton team to Game 7 of a Cup final. That means he's a threat to win the Cup almost by himself every year. Because that team is pretty average aside from him and Drai, and he still got them to the edge.

Unless you think he'll never have a better team with him than these current Oilers, then it's pretty assured that he'll win a Cup at some point.

You can question if it will be with Edmonton or not. But it's going to happen.

It's not assured at all. It's a team sport with a high degree of variance / puck-luck. And it's harder than ever to make the Finals. The LA and Vancouver matchups were favorable this year.

I hope for his sake he gets a better GM or leaves for one, because his ability to carry a team is only going to decrease slightly with each passing year as the speed and stamina start to decline.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

He made the cup finals. There's a good chance this was the closest he'll get. Unless he makes a twilight move to Toronto for a run...

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

LA has made space available for McDavid on their roster with the Dubois trade and after Kopitar retires.

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

He has 1 more year before his door closes with the Edmonton Oilers. Once Leon and Bouch sign, Edmonton is as good as dead in the water cap wise for a long time.

All of the value contracts they have on their team are disappearing and all of the big pay days need to be made. Something drastic will need to be done and they won't be able to move Nurse.

 

[Lilou]

My gut tells me they'll have another deep playoff run. Healthy McDavid and Drai can overcome a lot of things. If they somehow trade for a goalie better than Skinner, they are definitely going to run it back and get to the final.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

it's over guys...just like they had no chance in November

 

[Little Bobby Boo]

Closest he will come with Edmonton. He dragged them to g7 kicking and screaming but couldn't get it done.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

connor mcdavid wont come out the closet

so i pull out my gun

 

[Nemec]

Why didn't Igor win the Conn Smythe? Clearly he was the most important player to his team in the playoffs?

Or what about Mark Stone? Most important player for Vegas.

Pathetic NHL.. should be embarrassed.

 

[WiLBoY]

I firmly believe they will be there next year. They need to find a way to get more depth at forward so McDavid and Drai aren't playing for 8 of the last 10 minutes in a must win game. But they'll be there again next year.

They already have enough depth. You don't make game 7 of the finals without depth. This narrative that EDM has none but relies on McDrai is getting a bit ridiculous.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

with edmonton yes

he can win it if he does the right thing

View attachment 886738

Yeah, I certainly equate the Toronto Maple Leafs with winning.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

it's over guys...

It certainly is.

 

[HF007]

Connor Marino won’t win on the dolphins (oilers)

 

[thegazelle]

Maybe colour me optimistic, but I really don't see McDavid opting to leave the Oilers nor the Oilers trading him. Aside from being the face of the franchise (and the NHL), it would be a massive revenue hit for the organization without his presence. In all previous interviews and such, McDavid has really made it clear he loves playing in Edmonton and wants to win with the team that drafted him. They came ever so close this year and have been increasingly competitive, and with their keys guys locked in, I don't see much changing in terms of the Oilers being right up there as perennial contenders.

Sure he is from Newmarket and would probably enjoy playing for the hometown Leafs, and pull a Tavares, but where I think the impetus was for Tavares to bolt was in the fact that the Islanders never really sniffed consecutive years of increasingly getting deeper in the playoffs and the ensuing success it brings. McDavid's journey may well end up being like Crosby's, losing in the SCF but eventually getting his team over the hump. The Oilers would do well to shed some dead weight and overpaid players, as veteran as they may be, and focus on their defensive corps. That would signal to McDavid that the organization's singular goal is to get over the hump and I think this type of demonstration of commitment will keep him in Edmonton for the rest of his career. But of course I have been wrong before - there could be economics in play, geographical politics, family wants, etc. I certainly hope McDavid is a "lifer" for the Oilers.

Regardless, despite the heartbreak last night, very happy and proud of my Oilers for not giving up, despite incessant obstacles in each series since Vancouver. Their perseverance shows the heart of a champion and I think it's just a matter time before McDavid can hoist the cup with Edmonton.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I was talking about core guys.

Brother with those contracts they’re as core as it gets

 

[thegazelle]

Something drastic will need to be done and they won't be able to move Nurse.

Agree with this. I think the best thing here is to buy Nurse out. He should have never been awarded that contract in the first place, but that's sports for ya...

 

[MPGA]

McDavid is phenomenal and honestly a likeable player. He can win multiple Cups if surrounded by the right kind of players. He will win ZERO Cups if his running mate is focused more on diving, whining, and throwing cheap shots in the finals instead of scoring and winning.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

It certainly is.

took you 7 months and 30 teams down to finally say this eh?

 

[Artemi Panarin]

took you 7 months and 30 teams down to finally say this eh?

That's how hockey seasons generally work, yes.

 

[Hank Plank]

Didn't many people have Dallas pegged as the Cup winner before the playoffs? Or Vancouver (I disagree, but it's not my opinion)...? Let's not pretend that Edmonton had a walk in the park. Come on. They just barely lost to the eventual cup winners in 7.

L.A. enough said. Van iced a 3rd string goalie. Full credit to Edmonton against Dallas and Florida.

They already have enough depth. You don't make game 7 of the finals without depth. This narrative that EDM has none but relies on McDrai is getting a bit ridiculous.

McDrai barely left the ice in the last 5:00, Drai was dragging his carcass around the ice why not use some of that depth instead?

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

That's how hockey seasons generally work, yes.

you said they were "Done" in November though lol

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Not sure why people are ranking 97 ahead of Crosby & Ovechkin All Time.

As a previous poster said. I really don't know where the narrative that McDavid is on an island, or has it much worse than Crosby & Ovechkin comes from.

Draisaitl is an all-time playoff producer. Bouchard broke Coffey's record for most assists in a playoff run. Hyman has the most goals in a playoff run since Sakic. Nuge is a versatile two-way center/wing who scored 100 points a year ago and has 32 points in his last 33 playoff games. That's without even mentioning Ekholm, Henrique, Foegele, Kane, etc. This isn't a great supporting cast?

Do people conveniently forget that the Pens won a Cup against the powerhouse defending champs when their scoring wingers were Kunitz, Guerin, Fedotenko, and Talbot? Ovechkin was unbelievable in his playoff runs carrying far worse teams on his back earlier in his career, was great in his Stanley Cup run.

McDavid will likely win a Cup in his career but to say he doesn’t play on a good team is a disservice to some of his great teammates.

 

[Gm0ney]

The Oilers were a great team this season after their rough start. But with Hyman, Kane and RNH all on the wrong side of 30, and a lot of roster spots to fill with not a ton of cap space, this might be the high water mark.