There are plenty of reasons to doubt the Edmonton Oilers this season. They missed the playoffs last year after making back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, they changed coaches, they made major changes to the blue line and there are still questions surrounding the goaltending. But if there is one team in the NHL that knows what it takes to make a deep playoff run, it is Edmonton. And this could finally be the year the Oilers finish the job.
The biggest reason is obvious: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid is still the best player in hockey, and Draisaitl remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the league. McDavid finished last season with 138 points, while Draisaitl produced 97 points in only 65 games. Those numbers are ridiculous, and both players are entering this season with something to prove.
Then there is Evan Bouchard. The Oilers defenseman took another massive step last season, putting up 95 points and leading all NHL defensemen in scoring. Now, just a few games into the new season, Bouchard is already making noise offensively. He scored twice against Anaheim on Wednesday and currently leads the NHL with six goals.
The Oilers also made a major change behind the bench by bringing in Mike Babcock. Love him or hate him, Babcock has coached at the highest level and knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. More importantly, Edmonton needed a different voice after last season’s disappointing first-round exit. Babcock has already emphasized playing without the puck and making every player understand his role. That could become extremely important once the playoffs arrive.
Goaltending is probably the biggest question mark, but even that could turn into a strength. Edmonton brought in Frederik Andersen while also having Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi competing for playing time. Levi has already made an early impact, stopping 29 of 31 shots against Anaheim for his third win of the season. If the Oilers can get consistent goaltending, the rest of the roster is good enough to carry them a long way.
And maybe the most important thing is that Edmonton is hungry. McDavid recently signed a two-year extension that keeps his cap hit at $12.5 million, giving the Oilers additional flexibility while keeping their superstar in Edmonton. McDavid isn’t chasing another personal award. He wants the Stanley Cup, and the Oilers have built this entire window around giving him another opportunity to win it.
The early results certainly haven’t hurt the argument. Edmonton is 3-0-1 after four games and has scored 22 goals. Against Anaheim, the Oilers fell behind 2-0 before exploding for five goals in the second period. McDavid had a goal and two assists, Draisaitl had four assists and Bouchard scored twice. That is exactly the type of offensive firepower that can change a playoff series in a matter of minutes.
Nobody should pretend the Stanley Cup is guaranteed. The Western Conference is loaded, and Edmonton still has things to prove defensively. But this team has something most contenders don’t: two of the best offensive players on the planet, an elite offensive defenseman, a new coach with a championship pedigree and a core that has already experienced the pressure of playing for the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers have been close before. They have reached the Final twice. They have learned what it feels like to lose when they were only four wins away from hockey’s ultimate prize. Now they have another chance, and this time they look determined to make the last step. If the goaltending holds up and the defense plays the way Babcock expects, Edmonton has everything it needs to win the 2027 Stanley Cup.
The window is open. Connor McDavid is still here. Leon Draisaitl is still here. And this time, the Oilers finish the job.
Hockey is more than a game, it’s our vice.
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