Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyB
I wouldn't be surprised if the four year prediction ends up being right. McDavid is a big deal, but the bigger difference is the change in the management and coaching. The hot mess that is the Edmonton Oilers is not really the fault of all these young players so much as it's the fault of the brutal leadership that has been ruining the potential of young players. That's finally changing.
Besides, the prediction's not so out of line with the histories of recent winners.
Pittsburgh - DNQ for playoffs 4/4 seasons before 2007, then won the cup in 2009.
Chicago - DNQ for playoffs 9/10 seasons before 2009, then won the cup in 2010.
LA - DNQ for playoffs 6/6 seasons before 2010, then won the cup in 2012.
Oilers - DNQ for playoffs 9/10 seasons before 2016(?), then win the cup in 2018(?)
No guarantee they even make the playoffs next year, but it wouldn't be unique for them to go on and win in just a few years.
Personally, I just think it's exciting that the battle of Alberta is going to be something real again and that we may have the pleasure of watching the next generational talent play out his career so close to home rather than off in the East.
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Ok. There's validity to that, but there's a good difference between DNQ and 62 points.
New leadership, some defence, and i could see things turning quickly. However, I don't yet see that defense and i'm not yet convinced yet that leadership group has been truely delowed.