It is, therefore, no surprise that the team has been bleeding some of its bottom-six talent and releasing some players who didn't quite fit the mold, such as Kailer Yamamoto, and trading away Klim Kostin, as a result.
The Oilers are in the process of signing players to long-term contracts and are working hard to shore up the bottom six of their roster so they can again secure a spot in the Stanley Cup finals.
It is arguable that they are still within the window of contention and they still have enough offensive firepower to replicate the success they had last season. Nevertheless, because the Oilers have a lot to prove in the Pacific Division, fans, and the front office will once again be demanding as they want their team to succeed.
As a whole, the Oilers have won 50 games, lost 23 games, and recorded nine overtime losses during their 82 games. They finish just below the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Conference.
It is likely that Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the rest of the team are feeling the pressure as expectations have risen across the league as a whole, including their own.
POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 2 | 190 ANSWERS NHL Teams with the most pressure this season Do you think the Edmonton Oilers have what it takes? | ||
Yes | 139 | 73.2 % |
No | 51 | 26.8 % |
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