I think I'm still too satisfied with last few seasons to be worried, for the first time in my life as a fan of anything. The run this team had last year really sold me I think on the idea of putting the decade of darkness and all that behind, and setting new expectations based on what the McDavid era has brought us. While we haven't seen a cup in that time, we've generally seen growth in areas big enough to make us an even bigger threat the following season somehow.
Last season I was convinced we were out of the playoff picture, only to rattle off 16 in a row and look unstoppable. Until this team gives me a concrete reason to think we won't somehow improve on our last postseason performance in some way, they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Next game is the start of a 17 game winning streak, or the last loss in the most recent losing skid. There's no way the NHL suddenly finds a way to suddenly contain the talent and experience this team has in doing exactly the kind of shit they're doing right now for any extended period of time.
As of right now, knowing what I know with perfect hindsight, there are only 3 Oilers squads I would bet on to win the cup if the playoffs were "re played" for some reason, simply because of how impressive they are to look back on, despite the frustration at times (2006, 2023), and in the case of this years team, who I would absolutely bet on right now even without the benefit of hindsight, it's because last years team was improved upon no matter how you cut it this year. The chemistry might not be there yet, but in recent history, the team has proven that somehow, they end up making even guys like connor brown end up with masses of fans calling for his re-signing after showing up so huge for so games that were so few, but so massive in significance.
That felt kinda therapeutic to type out. It's nice to feel relaxed a bit when the teams struggles, after proving time after time in recent years that the insurmountable struggles especially in the regular season, have almost always been the afterthought of the season.