In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis answers 20 burning questions about the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the team’s path forward. Can the Oilers win a Stanley Cup during the McDavid‑Draisaitl era? Who should Edmonton prioritize adding a first‑line winger or a top‑pairing defenseman? And what is Chris Knoblauch’s biggest weakness as a coach?
Nick also dives into key hypotheticals: What if the Oilers had drafted Matthew Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy, or Jake Guentzel? Could Connor McDavid realistically reach 2,000 career points? And who’s the next Edmonton Oilers player to get their number retired? Plus, we debate the impact of players like Zach Hyman, Matthias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Dylan Holloway, and Vasily Podkolzin, and what it will take for this team to stay in contention in the 2025‑26 NHL season.
5:10 Comparing goal scoring potential of young players
10:14 FanDuel sponsorship and betting opportunities
15:52 Zach Hyman signing as turning point
21:27 Draft misses and alternative player selections
26:32 Hypothetical Connor McDavid trade scenarios
31:06 Outro: Feedback request and upcoming content
1. Do the Oilers need a first liner winger or 1LD more?
2. Lowest caliber starting goalie to win a cup?
3. Knoblauch’s biggest weakness as a coach
4. More goals: Evander Kane or Ike Howard+Matthew Savoie+ Vasily Podkolzin?
5. 3rd line center or 4th defenseman?
6. Which flop hurt worse: Kailer Yamamoto or Jesse Puljujärvi
7. Could Taylor Hall have won a Hart trophy as an Oiler?
8. Biggest mistake contract?
9. Would Darnell Nurse been extended if Oskar Klefbom never got hurt?
10. Next number retired?
11. Best and worst contract?
12. Most important sliding doors moment?
13. Draft what ifs?
14: Yakupov: Forsberg, Hertl, Teräväinen
Nurse: Guentzel, Horvat, Morrissey
Puljujarvi: Tkachuk, Keller, Sergachev, McAvaoy
15. Who helps most right now: Holloway, Broberg, Foegele, Brown, Perry
16. Dream McDavid trade return package?
17. Can McDavid hit 2000 career points?
18. Can McDavid and Draisaitl run down Crosby and Malkin?
19. O/U 4.5 years on McDavid’s extension
20. Will the Oilers win a cup with McDavid and Draisaitl?
Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl & the Edmonton Oilers: 20 Burning Offseason Questions
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20 Comments
1. 30-goal winger
2. Not Skinner. Darcy Kuemper yes. Uhlmark, who was on the market last year
3. Knoblauch does not improve McDavid and Draisaitl, he does not see the 'schemes' that make them better. He also does not see the need for better goal-tending. About McDavid if I were Knoblauch, I would use him on breakouts and not coming from the back of our net and stumbling on 5 defenders. McDavid can use his moves on breakouts. He is also too 'disconnected' from the defense. As Head Trainer he should TEACH players like Bouch to not 'dribble' when he is last defender.
4. Ike + Savoie + Pods more than Kane
5. A 4th defense
6. The Finn
7. No
8. Nurse
9. No
10. 29
11. Draisaitl best; Nurse followed very closely by Bouchard as worst
12. When McDavid reaches 33
15. Broberg
16. No such thing
17. Yes
18. Yes
20. Yes
The Oilers will not win a Cup this Era unless they get some serious top level help….right now….before this window closes in 3-4 years. The Oilers are now Organizationally going into the 3rd Period in terms of Katzes ownership tenure goes….. its a win-now reality….if the Oil can nail down 2-3 Cups before the window falls shut on them their Legacies will all shine….if not….they will be the bugs not the windshield.
Dallas will kick hazz this coming year…Gully understands a few things….Systems win Cups not Teams or Players.
Where they been ; – Building for Cup Contender Ability
Where they going ; – Major Screw up rebuild , losing key players because McDrama couldn't be a likeable team focused idealistic "winning team oriented guy" instead had to keep his mean girl "click" in the locker room and on ice share, to do what is needed to be the winning team .
Where are they headed; – Unable to keep top of division , unable to make the playoffs .
Evander Kane is going to have more goals then almost any Oiler , and will be why Vancouver will be in playoffs and Oilers won't be.