Connor McDavid makes bold claim about Oilers ahead of 2023-24 season

PUBLICATION

Liam
September 10, 2023 (8:49 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Entering another season of Connor McDavid's prime, the Edmonton Oilers will have an immense pressure on to make a Stanley Cup Final appearance for the first time since 2016.

General Manager Ken Holland has had an eventful summer re-tooling the team. Holland traded depth players Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin to the Detroit Red Wings, signed forward Connor Brown in free agency, and has invited veterans Sam Gagner and Brandon Sutter to training camp on professional tryout contracts. Holland also made some minor signings to help the team with depth as well as in AHL Bakersfield.

With a full season involving their trade deadline acquisition Mattias Ekholm, the Oilers look like a greatly improved, well rounded team on paper.

Now, captain Connor McDavid recently spoke to the media in Edmonton with great confidence and a bold claim about this year's Oilers, saying that he believes they have the best team in the entire National Hockey League.

"I really feel like we are the best team in the National Hockey League. I watch a lot of hockey. There's some really special players out there, and some really good teams that are fun to watch, but I just think our team is on another level." McDavid said.

The season will have to play out entirely to see if McDavid's hopes come true, but his faith in the team is backed by consistent improvement over the last few seasons. McDavid and the Oilers will get their first test to prove the hockey world they're the best team in the NHL on October 11th as they host the Vancouver Canucks.