If Connor McDavid leads the Edmonton Oilers to the Finals, it would be seen as a culmination of his personal redemption arc. Despite his individual brilliance, the Oilers haven’t been able to translate McDavid’s talent into sustained playoff success. This year could be different.

The addition of young talent like Evan Bouchard on defense and the emergence of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as a reliable scoring threat alongside McDavid have bolstered the Oilers’ offense and balance. Leon Draisaitl’s continued excellence provides McDavid with a lethal scoring partner.

The Oilers’ biggest challenge will be overcoming their defensive woes. Can they find a way to contain opposing offenses without relying solely on McDavid’s offensive heroics?

Their potential opponents in the Finals would heavily influence the outcome. Facing a high-powered offense like the Panthers could exacerbate their defensive weaknesses. However, against a more defensively sound team like the Colorado Avalanche, McDavid’s offensive brilliance could be the difference-maker.

This series would be all about McDavid’s ability to single-handedly carry his team to victory. It would be a captivating narrative of individual brilliance chasing a coveted championship.