The thing that bothers me most about this is, if things go sideways and they exit in the 1st round, the critics will pile on (even more) about McDavid and Drai being “wasted” on the Oilers, who are clearly incapable of surrounding them with a capable, contending team. This is bullshit.
McDavid didn’t really show up for the first 2 games and Drai shot his team in the foot in game 3 with a completely unnecessary and selfish play. The surrounding cast needs to pick it up as well but this is the most talented and capable Oilers team I’ve seen since the 80s and they have it in them to be true contenders. They are beating themselves but if they continue to do so and make an early exit, the narrative of the Oilers somehow “failing” McDavid and Drai will intensify.
Every team has a weakness or two and the Oilers are no exception (goaltending could be better & defence could be deeper), but Holland has done his job and built a very credible contender. It’s in the players’ hands now…
I think people need to tune out the 'narrative.' It will always be there and something beyond ability to control. There's always going to be an external discussion about whether McDavid and Draisaitl will stay in Edmonton. It's driven by jealousy whether Leaf fans who haven't won since 1967; Flamer fans who have never had super elite talent but have been generationally abused by Oiler ones; other fanbases that feel the Oilers were unfairly gifted great talent via the lottery; media peeps who stir up emotional reactions to secure eyeballs and impressions which translates into money.
Oiler ownership have never scrimped on paying their elite talent. Their GM is player friendly and openly engages with his super elite leadership group on personnel decisions. This franchise can throw both money and longest term to retain its super elites. Both McDavid and Draisaitl have fully embraced winning over personal accolades and by their public record align with Holland's mantra that winning a Cup requires multiple years of making the playoffs, chipping away at it each and every year, until everything clicks. I'm not sure either feel there is a quick fix leaving this franchise to seek a perceived cheat code faster way elsewhere.
This series is a contrast of two divergent styles. The Oil have led for all of about 7 minutes but have been stifled by opposition great goaltending, a boring, effective defensive structure, very poor discipline and bad penalties enflamed by mediocre and erratic refereeing. The Kings were never going to be a gimme putt. We'll see how much the Oilers have learned with their backs firmly against the wall. This series is still close despite the overwhelming majority of the Oiler lineup being stuck in neutral.
Oil have their hands full. Lots of glass empty elements to think they won't or can't come back from 2-1 series deficit. But also a lot of glass half full reasons for hope with a largely underperforming roster largely holding its own with much more available across everyone in the lineup including the two super elites. We all wait to see what transpires.
