Oilers not overwhelming favourites with one prominent hockey media outlet

Everywhere you look, the Edmonton Oilers are the 'trendy' pick to win it all in 2024-25. And while some will point to this being the case for the past few years, their tag as favourites seems more justified than ever, after they came up just one win/two goals short of finally reclaiming the Stanley Cup last season.

Of course, just because the Oilers are favoured by many, it doesn't mean they have any 'divine' right. (Not that coach Kris Knoblauch or his player think like this anywhere.) In addition, everyone is well aware that anything can happen out on the ice, particularly once the playoffs begin.

In this respect, we draw your attention towards NHL.com and an article they have published. Calling on 15 staff members consisting of writers and editors, the hockey media outlet has shared their predictions for the 2024-25 campaign.

Oilers in the mix but not outright the team to beat

However, if anyone was thinking the Oilers are overwhelming favourites to win the Holy Grail of hockey, they can think again. Not that they don't have some believers over there at NHL.com, but it's a bit of a mixed bag.

One thing the panel of 15 does unanimously agree on, is that the Oilers will qualify for the playoffs. However, this isn't exactly a stretch to predict a team led by the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard is all but certain to advance to the postseason.

Almost similarly, 14 of the 15 staff members have selected the Oiler to finish first in the Pacific Division. The one 'dissenting' voice is deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman, but even he has them finishing second. (Which they did last season, and ultimately weren't to be denied when it came to soaring through the Western Conference competition.)

Less certainty come the actual NHL playoffs

Where things start to become less certain, are when it comes to progressing in the playoffs. In this respect, seven people on the NHL.com panel have the Oilers eventually representing the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.

Now to be clear, those seven picks are still the most that any team received in the Western Conference, to advance to the Final. At the same time though, seven out of 15 is still less than 50 percent. (The Dallas Stars were second out of the Western Conference teams, receiving six votes.)

As for once the Oilers actually play in the Stanley Cup Final, they received six picks by the panel of experts to win it all. For the record, the Stars also received six selections, while the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators had one vote each.

When it comes to the Conn Smythe Trophy for the playoff's MVP, the Oilers also received six picks. Four of these went to Connor McDavid, although none of the staff members in question were evil enough to also have the Oilers not winning the Cup, as was the outcome last season.

The other two Oilers Conn Smythe Trophy winner picks go to Leon Draisaitl, alluding to him being able to remain healthy throughout the playoffs. (Or at least as healthy as you can be after eight/nine months of hockey.) Last season Draisaitl played well early on in the playoffs before being compromised by an injury, particularly in the Stanley Cup Final.

Overall, NHL.com's predictions do make for intriguing reading and certainly, they do know what they're talking about over there. At the end of the day though, no one can know for sure how things will play out in 2024-25, although we are at least confident in predicting the Oilers will be firmly in the mix come playoff time.

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