It’s official. The Edmonton Oilers have officially been eliminated from the 2014-15 playoffs. The Oilers’ 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings put the final nail in the coffin with a decent number of games still left on the schedule.
Oilers are now mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Their playoff drought is NINE seasons.
— Matthew Iwanyk – Матейко Іваник 🇺🇦 (@matthewiwanyk) March 10, 2015
As noted above, the playoff drought has hit nine seasons. That’s a brutal stretch for fans and the team is closing in on the NHL record for consecutive seasons without a playoff berth.
Longest playoff drought in NHL history is 10 by the Panthers from 99/00 season to 11/12 season (Lockout in 04/05).
— Matthew Iwanyk (@matthewiwanyk) March 10, 2015
The Oilers have a good shot to win the Connor McDavid lottery, but that doesn’t mean their playoff drought will be snapped anytime in the near future. Even with a star such as McDavid, the Oilers have holes all across the roster to address. It’s remarkable – and actually pretty mystifying – how the Oilers have churned through so many high draft picks and yet they’re as far away from a playoff spot as ever before.
The Oilers are a case study in how top draft picks don’t deliver an immediate winner and even a player like McDavid won’t right the ship overnight.
