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Originally Posted by InternationalVillager
Yeah I don't think so either. The Panthers lost last year and you knew this was already a great team and they would be back next year. Now they've won the Cup and might even be back again next year too. That's how good they were against the East.
The Oilers on the other hand-- had a lot go their way in order to get to where they got and to run the Western Conference gauntlet again -- Colorado, Vegas, Dallas perhaps... I'm not sure they can replicate it. But I would think WCF is very possible. As getting out of our division, it's really only up to Vegas if they can stop them.
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The only thing the Oilers have going for them is that they are probably a near lock for a top 3 spot in the division, because no other team is ready to step up and compete for it.
But they will be going into next season (barring something like a Drai trade), with most of the same team, but no Henrique, Fogele, Janmark, Perry, Brown, etc and replacing those guys with guys on $1million or league min contracts.
They did above expected in the playoffs because their depth stepped up a bit - but they won't have that depth next year - or any year going forward with this core.