The Edmonton Oilers reached the Western Conference Finals last season, losing in four games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. It was the team’s best playoff result since reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2005-06.
It’s good, but it’s far from satisfactory in the eyes of captain Connor McDavid, who compares this playoff run to the previous one, in 2016-2017, when the club was eliminated in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks. .
“We still have a long way to go and we know it. It takes everyone and it takes a whole season. We really only won one game more than in 2017. It felt like we were closer last year than the year before, but it was just one win.
“I just can’t wait to start over, to be back and to be able to see everyone again.”
Like all playoff teams, the Oilers struggled with multiple injuries throughout the playoffs. These include 2020 Hart Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl, who was severely limited by a sprained ankle, and defenseman Darnell Nurse who played through all series despite tearing his hip. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto were also plagued by injuries last spring.
McDavid didn’t use injuries as an excuse, pointing out the Avalanche overcame their own injuries en route to the Cup.
“You look at what Colorado went through, they had a lot of injuries, a lot of things stood in their way, but they rose to the challenge to finally be the last ones standing. It takes everyone, it takes a whole organization and it’s good to have everyone under one roof here.”
McDavid finished last season with career highs in all areas, scoring 44 goals, 79 assists and 123 points, leading the league in scoring for the fourth time in the last six seasons.
With the four-time Art Ross Trophy winner looking more dominant than ever and leading the Oilers to their best playoff performance in more than a decade, McDavid realizes expectations for his team this season will never have been met. as high as they have since entering the league in 2015-16.
“Last year was a step forward, but we’re going to get here and start from scratch and build on what we achieved last year. Nothing is free in this league, we certainly know that and we’re just excited to do it again.”
McDavid, Draisaitl, Nurse and Nugent-Hopkins formed the core of the Oilers’ final era. Along with forward Zach Hyman and goaltender Jack Campbell, acquired this summer as free agents, McDavid says the Oilers hope to instill a winning culture to build on the momentum from last season.
“I think we’re building a culture here in Edmonton and that translates year after year. It’s the same guys every year who set the tempo and the rhythm and lead the way.”
