Oilers unsurprisingly projected as the NHL's top offence in 2024-25

If there was any doubt about Connor McDavid remaining the best player in the game today, the response was resounding during the playoffs. Yes, McDavid and the Oilers fell one win short of the ultimate glory, but he more than showed the hockey world what he can do.

The seven-time NHL All-Star paced all players with 42 points during the playoffs, including setting a new league record with 34 assists after surpassing a certain Wayne Gretzky. As a result, he took home the Conn Smythe Trophy -- albeit not in ideal circumstances -- as the most valuable player of the 2023-24 playoffs.

As such, it's no surprise that the Oilers are considered one of the top offences in the NHL. In fact, according to Mike Fink of The Hockey Writers, they have the very best offence in the entire league.

More to the point, Fink is projecting the Oilers to have top offence during the upcoming 2024-25 campaign. He puts them in first place in his projection of the top five NHL offences, with the Stars second, the Leafs third, the Devils fourth and the Canucks fifth.

A power-packed offensive threat

Now again, when you have McDavid on your team, it stands to reason you're going to be one of the most dangerous attacks in the NHL. However, you need more than just the superstar centre to be given this mantle, no matter how good he is.

Along these lines, it helps when you also have Leon Draisaitl, who is regularly named among the top 5-10 players in the NHL himself. He would undoubtedly be the first line centre on most other teams around the league.

Further, Draisaitl is second only to McDavid, when it comes to most points in the NHL dating all the way back to 2015-16. (982 to 841.) The German finished third in the NHL with 31 playoff points this past season, and you have to figure he would have had even more if he wasn't playing with an injury.

Offensive D-man in the positive sense

Another reason for the positive offensive projections surrounding the Oilers, comes down to a breakout year from Evan Bouchard. He had a career-high 82 regular season points, which were fourth-most among all NHL blue liners.

Bouchard actually took his form to another level during the playoffs, as he finished second among all players with 32 playoff points. This included setting a record with his 26 assists being the most ever by a defenceman in a playoff run, surpassing the previous mark held by Oilers legend and current assistant coach, Paul Coffey.

It doesn't stop there though, with Zach Hyman finishing third in the NHL during the regular season with 54 goals and led all players during the playoffs with 16 more. In fact Hyman has set new personal best for goals, in each of his three seasons with the Oilers.

An all around dangerous offensive team

Want more? How about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins producing 67 points, just one season after a career-best 104. Heck, even D-Man Mattias Ekholm produced a personal best of 45 points in 2023-24 (to go along with a team-high +44 rating).

As if this isn't enough, the Oilers have gotten even better with the likes of free agent additions Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. Arvidsson is usually good for 40+ points a season, while Skinner averages around 30 goals per campaign.

Of course it's one thing having the talent on paper, but it's another thing putting it all together on the ice. However, it was just two seasons ago the Oilers led the league in goals, while this past season they were fourth.

Now, with an even more well-rounded and stronger roster, it stands to reason that the Oilers will be up near the top of the offensive rankings once again. Or at the very top according to The Hockey Writers, and you certainly aren't going to get any dispute from us.

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