Perhaps no NHL team in the playoffs put on a more disappointing performance in the first round than the Edmonton Oilers. The early exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks was a far cry in form compared to the past two seasons, in which the club made it to the Stanley Cup final.
This anti-climactic finish has put the future of this Oilers team in doubt. This is especially the case when it comes to their franchise player Connor McDavid as he only has two years remaining on his term with the team. After 11 years of coming up short for the Stanley Cup, one wonders how much more patience McDavid will have with Oilers management as he will be entering his 30s next season.
McDavid’s running mate Leon Draisaitl has emphasized the sense of urgency to win in Edmonton while McDavid is tied to his short term deal. Draisaitl had this to say in the Oilers end of season press conference today regarding McDavid and the team’s future: “He’s (McDavid) signed for two more years and God knows where that goes, but we have two years here right now. We have to get significantly better.”
McDavid’s Long Term Future in Edmonton Not Set in Stone
Draisaitl’s honest comments point to the stark reality of the current situation in Edmonton. In today’s NHL nothing is for certain and that includes McDavid’s commitment to Edmonton. At the end of the day winning is the goal. And the Oilers simply have not been good enough come playoff time.
Like McDavid, Draisaitl has also sent a message to Oilers management with his words. Both have alluded to the need to get better, suggesting the current configuration of the roster may not be enough to get the job done. McDavid flat out called this years group “average” following his teams playoff elimination to the Ducks this past week.
If the Oilers fail to show improvement over these next two seasons and can’t capture Lord Stanley, it is very possible McDavid could be playing for a different organization when his deal expires in 2028. The prospect once sounded unthinkable, but with each postseason failure that stacks up becomes more probable.
The Pressure is On Stan Bowman to Make the Oilers Better
With the Oilers latest playoff miss, the onus is on general manager Stan Bowman to reload this squad with aspirations of a postseason turn around in 2027. This will likely lead to some turnover throughout the organization over the offseason.
For too long McDavid and Draisaitl have had to shoulder the majority of responsibility with respects to carrying the Oilers forward. They need more support around them; the Oilers cannot rely on them alone.
Beyond the players, there are more questions that pop up. For instance, what happens with coach Kris Knoblauch? Does he stick around or does Bowman find a new coach for this team over the summer?
Overall, this will be a crucial period for Bowman. His job as GM is on the line as the seat becomes hotter with every mishap.
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