This summer was a lot different than last summer, as 2024 saw the Oilers bring most of the band back together, short of their younger players in Ryan McLeod, Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. This season, not so much. Plenty of pieces have departed for new teams – some who were disappointments in Edmonton, some who were important pieces. But Edmonton didn’t really replace them, either.

As long as McDavid and Draisaitl exist on this team in their primes, the ceiling for the Oilers is the Stanley Cup. They’ve willed the team far in the playoffs in the past, and the more recent iterations have been good enough around them to get them oh-so-close. But at the same time, they’ve lost a decent amount of that depth, and there are enough question marks around the opening day roster that a step back feels likely.

It’s always tough betting against McDavid, because he will always prove you wrong. But as the West gets tougher and the Oilers get a little bit worse, it feels like they may bow out earlier than the past two seasons. They’re still a surefire playoff team and will probably win a round or two, but until we see how well this group clicks on the ice, it’s hard to see them making the Stanley Cup Final for a third year in a row.