Despite their early playoff exit last season, for the first time in ages, there was hope for the Oilers. They looked like a legitimate threat, have one of the best hockey players in the universe on the team, and could only get better from there. An inexperienced team got to know what the grind of the playoffs felt like, and they’d be a legitimate Stanley Cup threat this season.
Instead, the Oilers have 37 points, tied with Vancouver. The only reason their standings position doesn’t look worse is because the Pacific has the Coyotes there to hold down the bottom (again).