Five reasons why the Edmonton Oilers should win the Stanley Cup

Twice in the last 20 years, the Edmonton Oilers (and the teams fans) have endured the ultimate heartbreak: Losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

In 2006 and 2024, the franchise rolled all the way to the deciding game of the entire season, and fell short.

Ask an Oilers fan about the experience, and the first-blush reaction is pain and the idea that it would have been better to fall out of the playoffs earlier.

As time and distance allows for more perspective, the 2006 team (and increasingly the 2024 edition) are viewed fondly.

Advertisement All agree that winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate.

An Oilers fan who was 15 when the team last won it all in 1990 is now 50.

Much of the teams overall fan base knows the lore of the five Stanley Cup wins in the glory years, but does not possess strong memories of the experience.

That could change this spring.

Here are five reasons why.

McDavid-Draisaitl Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have conquered every hockey challenge save for the Stanley Cup, and the best 1-2 punch in the game today appears poised to check off that box in June.

So far in this postseason, coach Kris Knoblauch has deployed the two men together almost equally together and apart at five-on-five: All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick The Oilers are doing good work during the playoffs with both men on the ice on a line, and holding their own against tough competition when flying solo.

The expected goal share (small sample alert) is even more encouraging.

In last years final against the Panthers, Knoblauch ran the two men together a total of 34 minutes, with great impact (67 percent goals, 75 percent expected goals).

McDavid without 29 one year ago (77 minutes, 83 percent goals, 47 percent expected) delivered during impressive results in the final.

Draisaitls expected goal percentage (45 percent) was below 50 percent and his line was 2-5 goals.

Fans could see McDavid-Draisaitl more together this year.

Together or apart, this has the feel of their time, and its possible both men go supernova on the big stage.

Evan Bouchard For the second spring in a row, Evan Bouchard is proving his detractors wrong.

Whats more, and a possible key to Edmontons fortunes in the final, Bouchards five-on-five defensive performance is brilliant once again this year.

During the 25 games Edmonton played in last years playoffs, Bouchard averaged 19 minutes per game with a 67 percent goal share (63 percent expected) at five-on-five.

Advertisement So far in this years postseason, Bouchards five-on-five numbers read like this: just shy of 19 minutes a night, 61 percent goal share and 60 percent expected.

No one questions Bouchard with the puck.

His five-on-five production this spring (2.2 points-60) ranks second among all NHL defencemen who have played more than seven playoff games.

His power-play ability isnt in question (although numbers are down so far in the playoffs), and Bouchard is adding work on the penalty kill.

Despite cries to the contrary, hes maturing and has emerged as a more complete player in the last 12 months.

Bouchard is a major positive for the Oilers in this years final.

Get good players, keep good players Its an old line credited to Bill Torrey when he was general manager of the New York Islanders, and get good players, keep good players still rings true for NHL teams these years later.

Its ironic to apply that mission statement to an Oilers team that lost Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to offer sheets, but the foundation of this team has been around for some time.

The heart of the order (McDavid, Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse) joined Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for good in the fall of 2015, and most of the roster is populated by players who played their first game for Edmonton more than three years ago.

Bouchard (and Zach Hyman) came later, but the leaders on the team have been around for a long time.

A healthy Evander Kane has made a world of difference this playoff spring, easing the loss of Hyman for the final.

Even a more recent addition to the team (Calvin Pickard) has helped the team in a big way.

Bowmans additions (Vasily Podkolzin, Ty Emberson, Kasperi Kapanen, John Klingberg, Jake Walman, Trent Frederic, Max Jones) landed on a team with established leadership across the roster.

Quite a departure from the decade of darkness, and another possible key to a Stanley Cup victory this month.

Advertisement Moving the puck I covered this portion of the Oilers game recently at The Athletic .

This is central to the clubs ability to defend fewer times per game, and for less actual time.

No team can constantly defend against elite NHL talent, so moving the puck quickly (and avoiding contact, an area Bouchard is exceptional) is key.

A quick pass through the middle in the defensive zone to McDavid can also activate the offence.

If the captain gets the puck in the neutral zone or (especially) in the offensive zone, he already has a shadow, possibly two.

The clean air enjoyed by Edmonton via a crisp breakout pass has many benefits.

The Oilers have never been better at outsmarting a forecheck than right now.

Possibly more important the five-on-five numbers during the playoffs when McDavid and Draisaitl are off the ice are stunning.

The third and fourth lines are running a 67 percent goal share in the metric, via Natural Stat Trick .

Moving the puck quickly was always a good idea.

Bowmans trades for Walman and Klingberg kicked the idea into overdrive.

The pain of losing Game 7 in 2024 In talking to Fernando Pisani years after the 2006 Stanley Cup run, it was clear that the 2006 team and fans will never completely put the loss behind them.

Game 1 was the turning point, with the 2006 team in chase mode (and they almost got it done).

Pisanis close chance in the third period of Game 7 lives in the minds of Oilers fans the world over.

For this generation of Oilers (team and fans), a shot at redemption is just a shout away.

The bitter pill of last years loss still hangs heavy in the air, and the 2006 team is proof no team is guaranteed a return trip.

The 2025 Oilers earned entry into the final and are playing the best hockey weve seen from this group.

Home-ice advantage is a big deal, and is something the 2006 and 2024 teams did not enjoy.

Is this the Oilers time? Key indicators suggest it is so.

But there are no guarantees in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

(Photo: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.