A New Dawn, A New Day

*Editor’s Note: An error occurred with the website on April 20th, and the original post regarding McDavid was lost. So, here’s a new edition of the post. Our apologies for the issue!*

For years, fans of the Edmonton Oilers were sold a bill of goods. The fanbase was sold hope, and told to stay patient while a contender was built. Fans kept up their end of the bargain, but the organization simply did not. For nine straight years, the Oilers wandered the desert, icing a terrible team and holding no one accountable.

That all began to change with a stroke of luck on Saturday night, as a four number combo emerged that gifted Edmonton with Connor McDavid, the best prospect since Sidney Crosby. It gave the young core of the Oilers, the organization, and the fans, a real jolt in the arm. Back came the feelings of hope and of a better tomorrow.

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are great hockey players, while Nail Yakupov is a good one with room to grow. That said, with all due respect to those guys, none of them are generational talents. Connor McDavid? He is a generational talent, and will provide the franchise a face for the next decade to fifteen years.

McDavid posted a spectacular 120 points in 47 games this season, producing one of the best draft eligible seasons I’ve ever seen. McDavid can do it all. He’s an electric, dynamic offensive talent with sublime passing skills, a scorer’s touch, and real two-way instincts. He can be the NHL’s best player within the next five years, I really believe that.

Getting a generational player is a big damn deal for the Oilers, but it is only part of the equation. Winning the Connor McDavid lottery signals a new era in Edmonton, and means so much more than anyone can imagine.

Generational Player:

I’ve mentioned it above, this kid is going to be unreal. McDavid is going to be the face of this franchise, and honestly could be the best player in Edmonton since Wayne Gretzky in the 1980’s. I know, that’s a lofty expectation, but if everything pans out it could very well be reality.

McDavid will give Edmonton a dynamic center depth chart for years to come, as he, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl form a dynamic trio. Don’t forget Anton Lander and Bogdan Yakimov, who could easily be NHL players and long-term solutions as well.

Edmonton is now deep down the middle and has filled a massive hole, while obtaining arguably the best talent the NHL has seen in a decade. That’s exciting.

The Pull Factor:

Guys want to play with Connor McDavid. Players love playing with good players, it’s a fact, and it can help turn a franchise’s fortunes around on the open market. Imagine getting a call from Craig MacTavish asking to take passes from Connor McDavid all winter long? Forget the weather, you’re packing your bags and getting on the next flight.

Players want to play with Sidney Crosby, with Steven Stamkos, with Patrick Kane and with John Tavares. Connor McDavid could have that exact kind of pull for the Edmonton Oilers, and could have it as early as this summer. The hype is real my friends.

No longer will Edmonton be laughed at by players and agents when the phone rings, no longer will a massive overpay be required to bring talent in. Don’t believe me? Ask Penguins, Blackhawks, Islanders and Lightning fans how hard it was to attract talent before these guys showed up.

Exposure:

Obviously in Canada, the Oilers are a widely talked about team that is on TV quite a bit. In the States, it is the exact opposite of that. The Oilers are nothing more than an afterthought, the butt end of a lot of jokes. They haven’t played on NBC or NBCSN since Versus was still a network back in January of 2008.

All of that ends now. The Oilers will be more exposed in the States thanks to the lottery win. People will want to see McDavid, and as a result will want to see the Oilers. Once again, Edmonton will be a relevant team around the entire NHL. That’s a big time plus for the organization.

A Change Of Plans:

Last Monday, GM Craig MacTavish called 2015-16 another “developmental year” and mentioned that he didn’t expect the upcoming first round pick to come in and move the dial. Scrap all of that, because McDavid is a guy that is going to have an immediate impact on the team.

The Oilers will now be under more pressure than ever to surround the core with solid complimentary pieces, and will have to insulate the young McDavid. No longer can Edmonton waste years of young careers, everyone is watching now.

The Oilers now have a legit superstar coming to town, and could be competitive with the additions of a legit starting goaltender and two actual NHL defenders that can handle decent minutes. Those are big pieces, but they are now imperative to acquire.

This also opens up some other pieces to be moved too. The Penguins’ first round pick, likely at number 16, is an obvious trade chip, as is the second round pick, slated for 33rd overall. With McDavid in the mix, is Bogdan Yakimov now expendable for help? We’ll see.

I honestly believe the Oilers expected modest improvements next year, but with McDavid, big time improvements can happen. The team is more appealing to players, and now has more assets in play. With the added pressure of McDavid, it becomes time to turn the rig north.

Closing Thoughts:

Getting a generational talent is a big damn deal for any organization, but it means so much to this Edmonton team. The needed jolt in the arm has arrived, and this team is ready to turn tings around. Edmonton immediately gets more exposure and becomes a helluva lot more appealing to other players.

This also turns the heat on, meaning winning becomes the priority. When we look back on this moment in five years, it very well may be the turning point of this organization.