We appreciate that the Edmonton Oilers have been among the favourites to win it all in recent seasons, including heading into the 2023-24 campaign. That's what happens when you have the best player in the game, another who regularly features in the top 5-10 and in general one of the stronger rosters in the NHL.
However, the various media outlets seem to have ramped up this narrative, after the Oilers came within two goals of finally reclaiming the Stanley Cup last season. This makes sense, particularly when you can make the argument that they were actually better overall than the Florida Panthers during the Finals. (Although we appreciate, that in the end this didn't matter.)
Giving due credit to Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News, among those predicting big things for the Oilers, is PuckMoney.Com. We delve into the reputable analytics site's predictions for the 2024-25 NHL campaign and how they see things playing out in the coming months.
As certain a bet as possible to make the playoffs
First up, PuckMoney.com gives the Oilers the best odds out of all 32 NHL teams of making the playoffs, at 93.9 percent. For some context, the Dallas Stars are next at 89.9 percent, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes at 84.1 percent.
The analytics site also predicts a slight increase in points for the Oilers, from 104 in 2023-24 to an NHL-leading 108.6 this coming season. (So effectively 109 points.) Unsurprisingly, this prediction also spills over into their chances of winning the Pacific Division.
In this respect, PuckMoney.com gives the Oilers the best chance in the NHL to win their own division, at 47.9 percent. The Vancouver Canucks trail significantly in second place for the Pacific Division, with odds of 21.3 percent to claim their second consecutive division title.
Not so straightforward for the Oilers IN the playoffs
Once in the playoffs, the Oilers are similarly given the best odds to advance to the second round, at 60.2 percent. However, things then get a little dicey from there on out.
Now to be clear, the Oilers are still given the best odds in the NHL by PuckMoney.com, to advance to the Western Conference Final and then the Stanley Cup Final. However, with odds of 36.2 percent and 20.6 percent respectively, it's not exactly overwhelming per se.
Along these lines, the analytics site does also have the Oiles are favourites to claim the Holy Grail of hockey. However, at 12.0 percent, once more we're not exactly looking at a slam dunk for Edmonton's NHL team.
Ultimately, objectively speaking we can certainly understand why anyone would pick the Oilers as favourites. Connor McDavid took his game to yet another level during last season's playoffs, and is as possessed as ever to fulfil his destiny.
McDavid is helped by the most dangerous offence overall in the NHL, while if the likes of Stuart Skinner and Darnell Nurse play up to their potential on a more consistent basis, any doubts about the Oilers' defensive game will subside. However, this must all still be approached with caution as, no matter how good a team is during the regular season, anything can happen once the playoffs begin.