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

[Northerner]

It was speculation on if he would walk at the end of his contract and play at a discount for a contender for a year.

Serious question: why do they need RT McDavid and Draisaitl? Aren't they a bit redundant?

 

[bucks_oil]

Serious question: why do they need RT McDavid and Draisaitl? Aren't they a bit redundant?

Center depth tends to win championships?

Every year Holland has been chipping away at this roster. This year was obviously the best, but over the summer there are some good things happening:
1) Sekera dead cap will be gone
2) Buyout of Campbell will save us $3.9M
3) Foegele's $2.75M will be gone
4) Ceci could be traded
5) Only Broberg, Holloway, and Desharnais require resigning with a raise
6) Other playoff contributors (Brown, Janmark) are old enough, and had poor enough regular seasons, that they can be resigned ~$1 to 1.5 each

Point is, Draisaitl is a huge luxury/cheat code for McDavid, but there is no reason not to essentially run it back. Obviously they need to get him signed, but even if they don't, I could see them taking their chances and being all-in for next year. This wasn't true in years past, but it would be overkill to trade Draisaitl to reinforce their weaknesses... which include: 1B goalie, 2RD and a top-6 winger (if they aren't convinced yet on Holloway). The gap they would create at 2C and on their power play would be much bigger than the improvements they would make to the above in trade.

 

[Daishi]

Serious question: why do they need RT McDavid and Draisaitl? Aren't they a bit redundant?

They don't and the finals proves it. They came within two goals of winning it all while Drai was a complete passenger for the entire series. Use him as trade capital to reinforce all the positions of need and the Oilers win next year.

People who disagree will mention the argument that contenders should have two elite centers but it's just a romanticization of the Crosby/Malkin days.

 

[Frank Drebin]

They don't and the finals proves it. They came within two goals of winning it all while Drai was a complete passenger for the entire series. Use him as trade capital to reinforce all the positions of need and the Oilers win next year.

People who disagree will mention the argument that contenders should have two elite centers but it's just a romanticization of the Crosby/Malkin days.

They also advanced to the cup final on the back of draisatl being a complete stud and weapon on the pp.

Its not as simple as drilling down to the past 7-10 playoff games

 

[Fatass]

McDavid is a fantastic player. He will carry the Oilers to the playoffs for as long as he’s there.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

They don't and the finals proves it. They came within two goals of winning it all while Drai was a complete passenger for the entire series. Use him as trade capital to reinforce all the positions of need and the Oilers win next year.

People who disagree will mention the argument that contenders should have two elite centers but it's just a romanticization of the Crosby/Malkin days.

Draisaitl was extremely hurt in the playoffs when he got injured in Game 1 of the Vancouver series...yet they still almost won it all
if he was 75%, the Oilers win the Cup

 

[Northerner]

They don't and the finals proves it. They came within two goals of winning it all while Drai was a complete passenger for the entire series. Use him as trade capital to reinforce all the positions of need and the Oilers win next year.

People who disagree will mention the argument that contenders should have two elite centers but it's just a romanticization of the Crosby/Malkin days.

That's what it looked like to me.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

I think they'll be even better next year. People are underestimating how much a finals run adds to experience. They'll be hungry for sure.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

If McDavid knows what's good for him, he'll recreate this commercial to help get the good juju going:

I forgot about that commercial. And it was indeed the year.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

The ultimate plot twist is he wins it in his last NHL season like Ray Bourque did.

 

[dalewood12]

The west looks deeper than the east.

In a battle for the west, they have to go through Dallas, Colorado and Vegas again. 25% chance, imo.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

It's possible. Crosby was 29 in his final appearance.

 

[lawrence]

You guys need to stop underestimating the oilers.

They were good enough to only need an average goaltending to win games granted they faced a 4th string goalie in round 2. They are not to be underestimated.

 

[12ozPapa]

Edmonton nor Toronto will win with their current cores. It is what it is.

 

[Iggys Dome]

He’s too good, he’ll be there again. Not with Edmonton though.

 

[Grigowski]

Vegas wasn’t a playoff team for the last 70 games of the regular season. Colorado lost to Seattle last year

What does Colorado from last season have to do with this? ....

 

[Green]

I think they'll be even better next year. People are underestimating how much a finals run adds to experience. They'll be hungry for sure.

if you have a young and hungry team that has room for improvement, I can't see this Oilers team getting better, only worse in reality, they really had to get it done this year

 

[SaltNPeca]

When they extend/sign McDavid, Bouchard, and Draisaitl there's a huge window for Prime Connor to win it. Holland & Knoblauch recipe is a winner with this superstar core, surrounded by veteran 2-way players. Provide the bottom 6 PK minutes while the big guns feast on the PP.

0 convincing arguments ITT besides "because Oilers" (most valid argument actually).

 

[CatOTails]

He still has like 10 seasons in front to get there, so why not?
I just don't see it happening next season. Essentially it's the same team. They're done if they face healthy Canucks / Vegas / Colorado.
Had they been playing NYR or Carolina chances of them winning wouldn't be great.

 

[FanCos]

A closet, yes, a cupboard, no.

 

[Melrose Munch]

He might have to leave to win. Probably big market US

 

[34]

In Edmonton yes. He is is a UFA in 2 seasons. He is outta there!

 

[bobbyking]

still mad that McDavid is better then Tkachuk and Barkov put together?

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

LA and NYR would welcome McDavid with open arms.

 

[lwvs84]

I think he'll win at least one in his career, and probably before the tail end where he's chasing a Cup. If it's not before his and Drai's contacts are up, it may have to be on separate teams. I'm not sure you can win with (probably) the two highest paid players in the league in a post cap circumvision world. This is assuming both get as much money as possible and don't take decent discounts.