2017-18 record: 36-40-6 (78 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: Connor McDavid
Last year, many pundits picked the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, if not the Western Conference. A funny thing happened, as the team got off to a slow start and players not named Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl regressed. The result was a team that missed the playoffs by a fair margin and now, they have to find a way to maneuver around the salary cap. Little was done other than what amounted to window dressing.
To explain how a team with McDavid and Draisaitl finished 20th in scoring, it is quite simple: depth, or the lack thereof. Five years remain on Milan Lucic's contract, and thus far, he hasn't produced nearly enough to justify half of it. He is obviously a player that needs to find some semblance of offense, and fast. Other players up front need to step up, too, as Zack Kassian, Drake Caggiula, and Ryan Strome need to put in some offense. In short, the wingers need to close the deal, as the center is far better are for the team, as they can go three-deep minimum. Defensively, it's no surprise that the team finished 25th, as Kris Russell gets circles skated around him, Andrej Sekera has three years left and is coming off an ACL tear, Oscar Klefbom was injured, and Darnell Nurse hasn't been the game changer the team has hoped for when they drafted him in 2013. Cam Talbot's work load from the 2016-17 season took its toll on him in 2018, as he couldn't stop a beach ball. Worse, Laurent Brossoit and Al Montoya weren't the answer when he needed rest. Enter former KHL goalie Mikko Koskinen, who is coming off a successful run there with SKA.
Prediction: 5th in the Pacific Division
If the Oilers get off to a slow start again this season, it will almost certainly spell their doom as far as playoff chances. The team will go as McDavid and Draisaitl can take them, but the supporting cast needs to pitch in, too if they wish to see the playoffs.
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