Connor McDavid makes bold claim about Oilers ahead of 2023-24 season

PUBLICATION

Cooper Godin
September 10, 2023 (7:07 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Edmonton Oilers will head into the 2023-24 season with a lot of pressure on them to take that next step and reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.

Oilers General Manager Ken Holland has been fairly busy this summer. He traded away Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin to the Detroit Red Wings in late July and then went on to sign Connor Brown in free agency and have invited a pair of forwards - Sam Gagner and Brandon Sutter - to training camp on PTOs. Holland also made some minor signings to help the team with depth as well as in AHL Bakersfield.

Add in a full season of Mattias Ekholm, who they got before the trade deadline last season from Nashville, and the Oilers on paper look slightly better than they did last year.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid recently spoke to reporters in Edmonton and made a pretty bold claim about the team heading into the 2023-24 season, saying that he believes they have the best team in the National Hockey League.

"I really feel like we are the best team in the National Hockey League. I watch a lot of hockey. There's some really special players out there, and some really good teams that are fun to watch, but I just think our team is on another level." McDavid said.

Only time will tell is McDavid's words are true, but it's understandable why he has such a big belief in his team. McDavid and the Oilers will get their first test to prove the hockey world they're the best team in the NHL on October 11th as they host the Vancouver Canucks.