NHL Playoffs 2017: 5 reasons Oilers can win Stanley Cup

1. Connor McDavid has been as good as advertised

While everybody knew that McDavid was going to be the player to lead the Oilers back to glory, few thought it would happen this early. Well, maybe the Oilers did, which is why they named him the captain after his first half-season. It’s no secret that the Oilers go as McDavid goes, and that he must perform well in the playoffs if they are to have any type of success.

Connor McDavid is the second-best player in the world, and people are already rushing to call him the best. It isn’t hard to see why: he’s the first under-21 player to hit 100 points in a season since Sidney Crosby in 2006-07, he’s already reached 100 career assists, and is a virtual lock to win both the Art Ross and Hart Trophy this year.

The only downside to his game is that he doesn’t shoot the puck enough. He still leads his team in goals, but not by much. He just prefers to feed it to his teammates because he’s that charitable of a guy. However, as we’ve seen so often this season, he’s virtually unstoppable if he’s given a breakaway.

McDavid is Canada’s best shot at ending their Stanley Cup drought, and the team that Chiarelli has built around him ensures that their window will remain open for a very long time. With the way he’s been playing, he has the skillset to take over a series if needed. Having that type of player bodes well for any team in the playoffs.

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If there’s any team that knows how unpredictable the playoffs can be, it’s the Oilers. The last time they made the playoffs, in 2006, they came a win away from the Stanley Cup as an eighth seed. This year’s team is, on paper, far superior to the one in 2006, so isn’t not crazy to call them a Cup contender.