Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup hopes are in jeopardy real early in the season

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Hunter Bowman
October 26, 2023 (7:15)

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The Edmonton Oilers had boldly declared "Cup or Bust" before the 2023-24 season kicked off, but their recent performance raises questions about that aspiration.

On Tuesday night, the Oilers faced a 7-4 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Wild in their first game without captain Connor McDavid, who is nursing an upper-body injury and expected to miss one to two weeks.

However, it's not just McDavid's absence to blame. The Oilers committed an alarming three too-many-men-on-the-ice penalties during the game, leading to concerns from Jason Gregor, host of the Jason Gregor Show, who called it "embarrassing" and questioned the team's performance.

This analysis has ignited worries among fans, some of whom believe head coach Jay Woodcroft may have lost the dressing room and are calling for his replacement.

Others insist on significant changes on the blue line. Even former Oilers' defenseman Ryan Whitney couldn't make sense of the current situation in Edmonton.

The Oilers are finding themselves on the wrong side of trends, and their recent game, despite some exciting moments, is marred by the mishaps with too many men on the ice.

With McDavid sidelined, Woodcroft had hoped other players would step up. Now, it seems everyone in the organization needs to rise to the occasion, or their season could turn out to be a "Bust" instead of a "Cup" opportunity.

Source: Hockeyfeed