Nobody will deny the Edmonton Oilers are one of many highest groups within the NHL. Led by the very best participant within the recreation and one other within the prime 5-10, the checklist of achievements is spectacular and continues to develop.
Suppose again to the 2022-23 season, when the Oilers led the league in scoring and likewise set a brand new NHL report for energy play effectivity. Then this previous season, they went on a 16-game successful streak which fell simply wanting the all-time report of 17 straight by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This success extends to particular person achievements, with Connor McDavid after all main the way in which. In 2022-23 he had what was referred to as ‘the season of the century’, as he took residence 4 trophies, and this previous season noticed he set a playoff report with 34 assists in a single postseason.
Sadly for McDavid, his success does embody one particular person accolade he would have somewhat prevented. This previous season noticed he turn out to be simply the second non-goaltender (and sixth participant total), to win the Conn Smythe Trophy whereas additionally shedding the Stanley Cup Last.
The explanation we carry this up, is as a result of the Oilers as a complete will wish to keep away from setting one piece of NHL historical past this coming season. Giving due credit score to Invoice Tran of The Oil Rig, it is a report which the groups and followers alike really need no a part of.
When the Oilers misplaced to the Florida Panthers in recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Last final season, it marked three consecutive years they’d been knocked out by the eventual champions. They misplaced 4-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23 and a yr earlier have been swept 4-0 by the Colorado Avalanche.
Luckily for the Oilers and their followers, as issues stand they don’t seem to be alone. As per Tran, 5 different NHL groups have misplaced three consecutive years to the eventual Stanley Cup champions.
These 5 groups are the New York Rangers (1981-83), Boston Bruins (1990-92), St. Louis Blues (1997-99), Philadelphia Flyers (2009-11) and Vancouver Canucks (2010-12). The Blues and Bruins are particularly unfortunate, having misplaced 5 out of six seasons and 4 out of 5 seasons respectively, to the eventual champions.
Nonetheless, none have gone 4 consecutive seasons of shedding to the eventual Stanley Cup champions … but. That is the potential destiny awaiting the Oilers, if issues go terribly improper for them in 2024-25.
In fact there may be one easy approach for the Oilers to keep away from this undesirable piece of historical past – exit and win the entire rattling factor! Actually it is greater than achievable, as confirmed by the Panthers themselves, who gained all of it one yr after shedding 4-1 to the Golden Knights, albeit on the expense of the Oilers.
darkish. Subsequent. Travis Dermott truly makes numerous sense for the Oilers. Travis Dermott truly makes numerous sense for the Oilers
Nobody is saying it will be simple after all, however the Oilers have the expertise now mixed with the related expertise, to lastly carry the Stanley Cup again residence. Not that it is wanted, however simply in case, they’ll all the time use the potential piece of undesirable historical past as further motivation.
