The Edmonton Oilers could be past their peak. That's a reality that befalls even the most historically talented teams.
One of the major issues that afflicts contending clubs is hitting their peak. Some clubs, like the New York Islanders of the early '80s, hit their peak at the right historical moment. The Canadiens of the 70s were done, a dynasty like the 80s Oilers was still years away, and there really wasn’t anyone else to challenge them.
So, the Islanders ran off four straight Stanley Cups in the era. Other more recent clubs like the Detroit Red Wings of the 1990s and early 2000s or the Chicago Blackhawks of the 2010s peaked at their best moment. Some contending clubs had faded, while other rising contenders still weren’t there yet.
Unfortunately for the Oilers, their peak coincided with the Florida Panthers. History will look back and say that the Oilers and Panthers could have dominated the NHL. The jury is still out on the Panthers. They could win another Cup, perhaps two.
But in the case of the Oilers, it seems they’ll go down as a talented club that just couldn’t get it done. The sad part is that the Oilers may have already peaked. While Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have plenty left in the tank, there might be questions about the supporting cast.
For instance, could Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have one more 100-point season in him despite falling numbers?
Could Darnell Nurse suddenly turn things around and justify his massive cap hit? Does Zach Hyman have a bounce back 50-goal season in him? T
Then, there’s the goaltending. Could Stuart Skinner pull off on Vezina-worthy season to lead the Oilers to a Cup? Those are a lot of question marks surrounding a team that’s likely past its prime.
Unless the Oilers can somehow rebuild on the fly, there isn’t much in terms of a supporting cast around McDavid, Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard.
You would have to think that if the Oilers could have a top defensive pair like Cale Makar and Devon Toews, a goalie like Sergei Bobrovsky, and a top six with wingers like Matthew Tkachuk and Valeri Nichushkin, they would steamroll the competition.
But that’s sadly not the case. The Oilers don’t have that supporting cast. There’s still time for things to turn around this season. But judging the situation as it stands now, there’s a long way to go.
Oilers could benefit from other clubs’ fire sales
Several clubs are on the precipice this upcoming season. One bad start could be enough to push them over the edge and hurtle them into a rebuild. Clubs like the Nashville Predators stand out as one such team.
If the Predators cannot shake off last season’s disappointing performance, could they sell off valuable pieces?
So, could the Oilers pluck someone like Ryan O’Reilly or Steven Stamkos from the Predators? What effect could that have on Edmonton’s lineup?
What if someone like Brady Skjei suddenly became available? Could that be a piece to push the Oilers over the hump?
What if the Predators went cuckoo and decided to trade Juuse Saros?
The Predators are just one example of a team that could blow things up. Others come to mind, like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, and St. Louis Blues. All of these clubs could move valuable pieces that could be the missing link for the Oilers.
Fans will need to keep their eyes open as the season begins. Watching clubs that may falter out of the gate will be essential to figuring out where the next shoe(s) will drop. Perhaps that’s what McDavid is waiting for to re-sign. Management has promised big deals, but everyone will have to wait for the market to develop.
If that’s the case, the next two to three months could feel like a decade in Oil Country.