Edmonton Oilers Details
With a second-place finish in the Pacific Division, Todd McLellan’s Edmonton Oilers showed that they are not a team to be messed with. The Rogers Place fans were treated well throughout the 2016-17 season, as star (and captain) Connor McDavid made his case for being a future hall of famer despite being a 20-year-old in just his second season. He led the Oilers with 100 total points, including 30 goals, while staying healthy and playing all 82 regular season games. Thanks to his stellar play, the Oilers were able to catapult up five spots in the division after finishing last in the Pacific during the 2015-16 campaign. A first-round matchup saw Edmonton win in six games, followed by a tough seven-game second round against Anaheim. Anaheim ultimately knocked off the Oilers, but not before McDavid showed that he can lead this team to success. The captain, in his first playoff action, finished with five goals and four assists in 13 games.
With him wearing that C, Edmonton is not to be taken lightly in 2017-18. Center Leon Draisaitl, merely a year older than McDavid, finished second on the team in scoring a year ago with 29 goals and 48 assists. His presence on the second line will be needed and he should build on his success from last season. Winger Jordan Eberle won’t return for this Oilers team, as he was traded away to the New York Islanders in June. Eberle was third on the team last year with 51 points, but was called out for his practice habits and many heralded this trade as a positive for the future. With a year more of experience for the young stars, this Edmonton team should be a force to be reckoned with in the West.