Edmonton Media Blames Oilers' Woes on McDavid's Leadership
If I was going to dissect the Edmonton Oilers and what's keeping them from being an absolute powerhouse, the last place I'm looking is to Connor McDavid. Yeah, he makes a lot of money, but he also produces Gretzky-like offense.
Certain members of Edmonton's media don't see it that way. Reporters Jim Matheson and Mark Spector each said recently that the Oilers' problem can be summed up to leadership.
Pathetic performance."
The malaise which both Matheson and Spector describe is likely not imagined. This team was swept in the Conference Finals last season and is clinging onto a playoff spot for dear life. But Connor McDavid is where the fingers get pointed? Seriously?
What about the GM? Ken Holland has had several chances to improve the Oilers' roster and fallen short. The Jack Campbell signing has proven to be a disaster, their defense is atrocious, and their bottom-six forwards leaves lots to be desired.
Edmonton is in cap-hell with ZERO dollars in space WITH $11.5 million in LTIR savings, per CapFriendly. So, Ken Holland has constructed a middling roster and absolutely mortgaged the team's salary cap situation in the process.
How does any of that fall on Connor McDavid, who is on pace for 154 points? Leadership? I hate to break it to you, Oilers' media: there isn't a leader alive that would make this group a bonafide contender.
References:
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 4 | 267 ANSWERS Edmonton Media Blames Oilers' Woes on McDavid's Leadership Should the Oilers fire Ken Holland? | ||
| Yes | 139 | 52.1 % |
| No | 70 | 26.2 % |
| See results | 58 | 21.7 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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YESTERDAY
OCTOBER 21, 2025
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Jack Hughes | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Justin Brazeau | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Ross Johnston | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Mikhail Sergachev | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Jesper Bratt | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Nic Dowd | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Adam Fantilli | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Cutter Gauthier | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Collin Graf | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Boone Jenner | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Kent Johnson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Adrian Kempe | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Anthony Mantha | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Schaefer | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| John Tavares | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Pavel Zacha | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Clayton Keller | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Kristopher Letang | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brad Marchand | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Casey Mittelstadt | - | 2 | 2 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Red Wings | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
| Canadiens | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
| Panthers | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 8 | |
| Maple Leafs | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
| Bruins | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 6 | |
| Senators | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| Sabres | 6 | 2 | 4 | - | 4 | |
| Lightning | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Devils | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
| Hurricanes | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
| Penguins | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
| Capitals | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
| Flyers | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| Rangers | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | |
| Islanders | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 6 | |
| Blue Jackets | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 6 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 7 | 5 | - | 2 | 12 | |
| Jets | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 10 | |
| Mammoth | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 10 | |
| Blackhawks | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| Blues | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| Wild | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
| Stars | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 6 | |
| Predators | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 7 | 5 | - | 2 | 12 | |
| Canucks | 7 | 4 | 3 | - | 8 | |
| Kraken | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| Ducks | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| Oilers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
| Kings | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| Sharks | 6 | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| Flames | 7 | 1 | 6 | - | 2 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||