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Summer Coolers – New York Islanders The New York Islanders enter 2026-27 looking remarkably similar to the team that missed the playoffs last season—with one major exception: longtime captain Anders Lee is gone. After finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division with 91 points, the Islanders turn to Peter DeBoer behind the bench. Neil Smith and Vic Morren question whether DeBoer can squeeze more out of a roster that made few significant offseason additions. Ilya Sorokin remains an elite foundation in goal, Matthew Schaefer looks like a future superstar, and several promising prospects are coming, but is there enough improvement to get the Islanders back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs? IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Islanders finish with 91 points and sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season. [00:00:20] Peter DeBoer takes over behind the bench after replacing Patrick Roy with four games remaining last season. [00:00:35] Some team statistics improve, particularly the penalty kill, which makes an impressive jump from 31st to 10th overall. [00:00:50] The power play remains a major weakness, improving only slightly from 31st to 30th. [00:01:00] The Islanders make no offseason trade acquisitions. Tony DeAngelo re-signs for two years at $4.5 million, while Matias Maccelli arrives from Toronto. [00:01:15] Vitek Vanecek signs a one-year deal after playing in Utah, providing insurance given the uncertainty surrounding Semyon Varlamov. [00:01:30] The biggest departure is captain Anders Lee, who leaves for Utah. Backup goaltender David Rittich also departs for New Jersey. [00:01:45] Vic’s assessment is straightforward: this looks like essentially the same Islanders team as last season, except now it has lost its captain. [00:02:00] Neil agrees. Looking at the roster on paper, he cannot identify an area where the Islanders have significantly improved. [00:02:15] One major reason for optimism is Matthew Schaefer, who is coming off a terrific rookie season and appears to have a brilliant future. [00:02:30] Goaltending should remain a strength as long as Sorokin stays healthy. Neil still considers him one of the NHL’s best. [00:02:45] Varlamov remains a major question after being out of the lineup for roughly a year and a half, making Vanecek an important depth signing. [00:03:00] The Islanders do have promising young talent coming. Cole Eiserman scored 18 goals in 32 games at Boston University last season. [00:03:15] Victor Eklund is another intriguing prospect and gives the Islanders another potential offensive piece for the future. [00:03:30] K'Shawn Aitcheson, selected 17th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, is another young player who could eventually push for an opportunity. [00:03:45] But Neil separates the future from the present. The question is what New York will be in 2026-27, and his expectation is that the Islanders may look very similar to what they were in 2025-26. [00:04:00] The conversation turns to leadership. With Anders Lee gone and Schaefer emerging as a potential franchise player, should the young defenseman already receive the captaincy? [00:04:15] Neil says no. Being the team’s best or most talented player does not automatically mean someone should wear the “C.” [00:04:30] Lee himself is an example. He earned the captaincy through leadership rather than simply being the Islanders’ most talented player. [00:04:45] Neil believes Bo Horvat is the more logical choice. Horvat has established leadership qualities and previously served as captain of the Vancouver Canucks. [00:05:00] Schaefer’s opportunity to become captain may eventually arrive, but Neil believes that responsibility should come later in his career. The Islanders still have Sorokin, a potential star in Schaefer, and some promising prospects. But for 2026-27, Neil and Vic see the same fundamental problem: where did this team actually get better? Unless DeBoer can manufacture a major improvement from essentially the same roster, another fight just to reach the playoffs appears likely.
Summer Coolers – Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild enter 2026-27 believing their playoff run could have gone much deeper if injuries hadn’t intervened. Minnesota finished third in the Central, third in the Western Conference, and seventh overall before defeating Dallas in six games for its first playoff series victory since 2015. The Wild then lost to Colorado in five without Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin, while Zach Bogosian also went down late in the series. Now Bill Guerin and John Hynes have a talented veteran roster led by Kirill Kaprizov—and one enormous question hanging over the franchise: can they convince superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes to stay in Minnesota long-term? IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Minnesota finishes third in the Central and West and seventh overall before eliminating Dallas in six games. [00:00:25] It marks the Wild’s first playoff series victory since defeating St. Louis in the opening round in 2015. [00:00:40] Colorado eliminates Minnesota in five, but injuries become a major part of the story. Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin both miss the series. [00:00:55] Zach Bogosian also misses the final game, forcing Jake Middleton into a difficult situation against the Avalanche. [00:01:00] Neil sees plenty for GM Bill Guerin and head coach John Hynes to build around as Hynes begins his fourth season behind the Minnesota bench. [00:01:15] Quinn Hughes, acquired from Vancouver during the season, gives Minnesota one of hockey’s elite offensive defensemen and dramatically changes the Wild’s ceiling. [00:01:35] Minnesota improves across the board: 3.27 goals per game, fourth defensively, third on the power play, and 16th on the penalty kill. [00:01:55] The penalty kill’s jump from 30th to 16th is especially significant and shows meaningful improvement in an area that had been a major weakness. [00:02:00] Minnesota acquires Blake Coleman and Olli Määttä from Calgary for Jake Middleton and three future draft picks. [00:02:20] Neil likes Coleman but questions how much Määttä has left, noting that Middleton plus three picks represents a substantial return for Calgary. [00:02:40] Michael McCarron and Bobby Brink re-sign. McCarron receives a six-year deal worth approximately $3.33 million per season after making an impact following his arrival from Nashville. [00:03:00] Nick Foligno and Zach Bogosian also return, while Minnesota adds Justin Kirkland and goaltender Calvin Pickard on a one-year, $1 million contract. [00:03:15] Max Shabanov joins on a one-year deal after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Islanders. [00:03:25] The biggest departure is Mats Zuccarello, who signs with the Los Angeles Kings. [00:03:40] Neil calls Zuccarello a throwback—undersized and not an elite skater, but consistently effective and especially dangerous on the power play. [00:04:00] Attention shifts to Minnesota’s biggest issue: Quinn Hughes still has not signed the long-term extension that had been rumored earlier in the summer. [00:04:20] Minnesota is already the NHL’s sixth-oldest team, meaning the Wild are firmly in a win-now window. Keeping Hughes becomes one of Guerin’s highest priorities. [00:04:40] Neil points to persistent speculation that Hughes eventually wants to play with his brothers in New Jersey. His failure to sign with Minnesota this summer only adds fuel to those rumors. [00:05:00] What will it cost to keep him? Neil believes Hughes could command more than $18 million per season. [00:05:20] With Kaprizov already around the $17 million range, Neil believes Hughes will naturally expect to earn at least as much as his superstar teammate. [00:05:45] The rapidly escalating NHL salary market could make negotiations even more complicated, particularly after other massive contracts signed around the league. [00:06:00] Neil discusses how the Leo Carlsson deal could ripple across future negotiations, including Cutter Gauthier’s situation in Anaheim. [00:06:20] The possibility of both Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar reaching unrestricted free agency creates the potential for an unprecedented NHL bidding frenzy. Minnesota has enough talent to contend right now, especially if last season’s injured players return healthy. But the biggest storyline extends beyond this season: the Wild have an elite defenseman in Quinn Hughes. Now they have to convince him that Minnesota is where he wants to spend his prime.
Summer Coolers – Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings enter 2026-27 as the NHL’s oldest team and perhaps one of its biggest short-term gambles. After finishing fourth in the Pacific with 90 points, Los Angeles finally avoided another first-round matchup with Edmonton—only to draw the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche and get swept. Now Peter Laviolette takes over behind the bench, Anze Kopitar has retired, and GM Ken Holland has doubled down on veteran experience. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether the Kings have enough left for one more playoff run or whether age is finally about to catch up with them. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Peter Laviolette takes over as head coach after DJ Smith, who had replaced Jim Hiller. The Kings finished fourth in the Pacific with 90 points. [00:00:25] After four consecutive playoff eliminations against Edmonton, LA finally avoids the Oilers—only to draw Colorado and get swept in four games. [00:00:45] The Kings have not won a playoff series since defeating the New York Rangers to capture the 2014 Stanley Cup. [00:01:00] The numbers reveal major problems. LA’s offense falls from 14th to 29th, while the power play finishes 28th at 17 percent. [00:01:20] The defense remains respectable, tied for sixth, but the penalty kill plunges from eighth the previous season all the way to 30th. [00:01:40] There are no major trade acquisitions during the offseason, while defenseman Brandt Clarke re-signs for five years at $7.4 million per season. [00:02:00] Ken Holland again turns toward veteran players, beginning with Corey Perry returning for a second stint with the Kings. Perry will be 41 and signs for one year at $1 million plus potential bonuses. [00:02:20] Erik Haula arrives at age 35, defenseman Erik Gustafsson is 34, and 32-year-old Scott Laughton re-signs for three years at $3.5 million annually. [00:02:40] Matt Zuccarello joins at age 38 on a heavily incentive-based contract, adding yet another veteran to what is already the NHL’s oldest roster. [00:03:00] Drew Doughty turns 37, while Artemi Panarin is also well into his 30s. Neil and Vic believe LA desperately needs production from Panarin, Adrian Kempe, and Quinton Byfield. [00:03:20] The biggest departure is captain Anze Kopitar, who retires after a legendary Kings career. His No. 11 will eventually join the franchise’s honored numbers in the rafters. [00:03:40] Doughty could become captain during the final year of his contract, but replacing Kopitar’s presence and leadership will be extremely difficult. [00:04:00] Neil explains the problem with relying on older players: there is very little upside. Veterans generally maintain their previous level or begin declining rather than suddenly improving. [00:04:20] He still believes LA has a more complete roster than some Pacific Division competitors, but sees the Kings as extremely close to the playoff bubble. [00:04:40] Injuries could become devastating because an older roster may not possess enough depth to withstand losing important players for extended periods. [00:05:00] LA was the only one of the 16 playoff teams last season to have a losing home record. [00:05:15] The Kings also suffered 20 overtime or shootout losses. With an offense ranked 29th, finding just a few additional goals in those situations could dramatically change their position in the standings. [00:05:35] Kopitar may not have been the offensive force he was earlier in his career, but Neil emphasizes that losing his leadership could have an enormous impact. [00:05:55] One potential reason for optimism is Laviolette. Neil points to his history of producing strong results during his first season with new teams. [00:06:15] Whether in New York, Washington, Nashville, or elsewhere, Laviolette has often generated an immediate response with his new voice and approach. [00:06:30] Neil believes Holland may be counting on that first-year Laviolette effect to squeeze one more playoff appearance out of this veteran roster before the Kings are forced to inject significantly more youth. Los Angeles is built to win now, but the margin for error is razor-thin. If the veterans remain healthy and Laviolette produces his typical first-year boost, the Kings could fight for a wild-card position. If age, injuries, and their offensive problems catch up with them, the transition toward a younger era may arrive much sooner.
Summer Coolers – Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers may be the NHL’s most intriguing team entering 2026-27. After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, injuries helped drop Florida to seventh in the Atlantic, with 11 players reportedly on injured reserve by season’s end. Now captain Aleksander Barkov returns, Brad Marchand is expected to miss the start of the season after surgery, and GM Bill Zito has aggressively rebuilt the roster around an unmistakable philosophy: Florida intends to be extremely difficult to play against. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions fall to seventh in the Atlantic during an injury-plagued season that leaves the roster decimated by the finish. [00:00:30] Marchand is expected to miss the beginning of the new season following surgery, but the Panthers receive a major boost with Barkov returning to the lineup. [00:00:50] Florida’s offseason immediately gets Neil and Vic’s attention because the Panthers appear to be constructing one of the NHL’s most intimidating and physical rosters. [00:01:00] The biggest acquisition is Brady Tkachuk, who arrives from Ottawa on June 21 in exchange for four draft picks. [00:01:20] Florida then adds former Anaheim captain Radko Gudas in a trade involving A.J. Greer and acquires Garnet Hathaway from Philadelphia for a sixth-round selection. [00:01:40] Put those players alongside Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, and Florida suddenly has an extraordinary amount of physicality and “sandpaper” throughout the lineup. [00:02:00] Neil loves what Bill Zito accomplished. Brady Tkachuk is the biggest addition, but the overall roster is now built to make every game physically exhausting for opponents. [00:02:20] There is a potential downside. Neil explains that playing such an aggressive style takes a toll on the players delivering the hits as well as those receiving them. [00:02:45] Florida also enters the season as the NHL’s second-oldest team, adding even more urgency as Paul Maurice begins his fifth season behind the Panthers’ bench. [00:03:00] The biggest change comes in goal. Sergei Bobrovsky leaves Florida as a free agent and signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs. [00:03:15] Florida responds by acquiring Jacob Markström and Angus Crookshank from New Jersey while sending Evan Rodrigues, Ben Stejskal, and Jesper Boqvist to the Devils. [00:03:35] Akira Schmid arrives from Vegas for a 2028 third-round pick, giving Florida another option behind Markström. [00:03:50] Neil believes the names on the jerseys may look very different, but the Panthers’ identity will remain intact. Maurice is still coaching, Barkov returns, and Florida intends to play the same demanding style. [00:04:10] The roster turnover goes far beyond the headline moves. Florida also loses several depth players through trades and free agency, including Noah Gregor, Michael Benning, Vinnie Hinostroza, Daniel Tarasov, William Skog, Jack Studnicka, and Nolan Foote. [00:04:35] Zito counters with another wave of additions, bringing in Sam Lafferty, Lars Eller, Bokondji Imama, John Beecher, and Alex Petrovic while retaining Cole Schwindt and Donovan Sebrango. [00:05:00] The sheer amount of offseason activity demonstrates how aggressively Zito attacked the roster after Florida’s disappointing follow-up to consecutive championships. [00:05:20] Neil gives Zito credit for working to put the Panthers back together rather than simply relying on the roster that previously won the Stanley Cup. [00:05:35] The biggest gamble may ultimately be replacing Bobrovsky with Markström. Markström disappointed in New Jersey, and Florida must determine whether he can rediscover his best form behind the Panthers. [00:05:50] Bobrovsky’s departure creates a significant hole, but Neil also points out that the veteran goaltender is approaching 40, meaning Florida eventually had to prepare for life without him. The Panthers will look different in 2026-27, but their identity may be stronger than ever. With Barkov, both Tkachuk brothers, Bennett, Gudas, Hathaway and a roster constructed around relentless physical hockey, Florida appears determined to make another Stanley Cup run—and make opponents pay physically along the way.
Summer Coolers – New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils enter 2026-27 as one of the NHL’s biggest question marks. After finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division and missing the playoffs, New Jersey changed general managers, traded Jacob Markstrom, and now appears prepared to enter the season without a proven No. 1 goaltender. New GM Sunny Mehta brings an analytics-heavy background, while Sheldon Keefe could find himself coaching for his job. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether Jack Hughes can finally stay healthy for a full season, whether Timo Meier can deliver the production New Jersey expected, and why the Devils may need almost everything to go right to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] New Jersey finishes seventh in the Metropolitan Division, 13th in the Eastern Conference, and 21st overall, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs after entering the season with much higher expectations. [00:00:25] The Devils have now reached the playoffs only three times since appearing in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, with just one series victory during that span—against the New York Rangers three years ago. [00:00:45] Nearly every important team metric declines. New Jersey finishes 27th offensively and 18th defensively, while the power play falls from third to 13th and the penalty kill drops from second to 17th. [00:01:00] Sunny Mehta takes over as general manager from Tom Fitzgerald, while Sheldon Keefe prepares for his third season behind the Devils’ bench. [00:01:20] Mehta brings one of the NHL’s more unusual résumés to the GM position, combining a data-science and analytics background with his experience as a former professional poker player. [00:01:40] Neil has no doubt that Mehta can run an NHL organization. The real question is whether his approach can outperform the competition and turn New Jersey back into a contender. [00:02:00] Neil’s biggest concern is immediately clear: the Devils appear ready to enter the season without a true No. 1 goaltender. [00:02:20] New Jersey adds David Rittich after his stint as the Islanders’ backup, but Neil views him as another depth option rather than the answer in goal. [00:02:40] Jake Allen currently appears positioned to receive the No. 1 opportunity, while Nico Daws may finally have his best chance to establish himself after several years of being discussed as part of New Jersey’s future. [00:03:00] The uncertainty follows New Jersey’s decision to trade Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers along with Angus Crookshank. [00:03:20] In return, the Devils acquire Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves, adding three forwards to a lineup that needs more offensive support. [00:03:40] Rodrigues has demonstrated the ability to play significant minutes, including first-line opportunities in Florida, while Boqvist and Steeves project more as supporting forwards. [00:04:00] Vic questions whether those additions are substantial enough for a team that already struggled to distinguish itself offensively last season. [00:04:20] Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer remain important pieces, but Timo Meier’s production since arriving from San Jose has been a major disappointment compared with expectations. [00:04:40] New Jersey’s additions may make the roster deeper, but Vic does not believe they significantly change the overall ceiling of the team. [00:05:00] One free-agent signing Vic does like is Arseni Gritsyuk, who receives a three-year contract worth $3.25 million per season after producing 13 goals and 31 points last season. [00:05:20] Even with that addition, the overriding feeling is that a lot must go right for the Devils if they are going to return to the postseason. [00:05:40] Sheldon Keefe could also be under significant pressure because he was hired by the previous administration rather than Mehta’s new front office. [00:06:00] After a disappointing season, Keefe will be heavily scrutinized. A slow start could put the Devils’ coaching situation among the NHL’s early-season storylines. [00:06:20] Neil returns to the goaltending issue as the biggest concern. He likes the Rodrigues acquisition and believes New Jersey has useful supporting forwards, but does not see those players dramatically moving the needle. [00:06:40] The contrast with expectations from only a year earlier is striking. New Jersey entered last season being discussed as a potential challenger for first place in the division. [00:07:00] Injuries to Jack Hughes played a significant role in the disappointing season, making his ability to remain healthy one of the most important variables for 2026-27. [00:07:20] Neil believes New Jersey needs a full season of superstar-level hockey from Hughes if the Devils are going to become a playoff team again. [00:07:40] The roster also loses two promising players when Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov are traded to Calgary for three draft picks, giving New Jersey additional future assets but sacrificing young talent. [00:08:00] Paul Cotter signs with Vancouver after not receiving a qualifying offer, while Zack MacEwen joins Toronto and Dennis Cholowski signs with the New York Rangers. [00:08:20] New Jersey still has prospects who could become part of the solution, including 2024 first-round selection Anton Silayev and defenseman Seamus Casey, who appeared in two games for the Devils last season. [00:08:40] Goaltending prospect Mikhail Yegorov also represents an intriguing future option at a position that has become one of the organization’s most immediate concerns. [00:09:00] Luke Hughes will be expected to continue developing into a major force on the blue line, but the greatest pressure remains on his brother Jack. [00:09:20] Neil believes Jack Hughes must put his Olympic success behind him and turn his complete attention toward delivering a healthy, productive season for the Devils. [00:09:40] Staying out of the trainer’s room and producing elite-level hockey for an entire season could be essential not only to New Jersey’s playoff hopes but also to helping Sheldon Keefe navigate what could become a very difficult year. [00:10:00] New Jersey still possesses high-end talent, but questions in goal, uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff, and the need for its stars to deliver consistently make the Devils one of the NHL’s most difficult teams to project entering 2026-27.
Summer Coolers – Edmonton Oilers After consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers took a major step backward, finishing second in the Pacific before losing to Anaheim in six games in the opening round. The early exit cost Kris Knoblauch his job and opened the door for Mike Babcock’s return to an NHL bench. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether Babcock can change Edmonton’s structure, the significant questions surrounding Frederik Andersen and the goaltending, a revamped defense without Darnell Nurse, and the lack of depth behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With McDavid potentially approaching unrestricted free agency in two years, the pressure is mounting for Edmonton to prove it can build another championship-caliber roster around him. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Edmonton finishes second in the Pacific Division but suffers a major postseason disappointment, losing to Anaheim in six games in the opening round after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the previous two seasons. [00:00:25] The first-round exit costs Kris Knoblauch his job, and General Manager Stan Bowman makes a dramatic coaching change by hiring Mike Babcock. [00:00:45] Babcock returns to NHL coaching for the first time since his tenure with Toronto ended, following the controversy surrounding his brief hiring by Columbus. [00:01:00] Vic believes Babcock could provide an immediate jolt, but he does not see enough personnel improvement to believe Edmonton is automatically headed back to the Stanley Cup Final. [00:01:20] Neil identifies depth as one of Edmonton’s biggest problems. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman remain elite pieces, but the quality of the roster drops quickly behind the stars. [00:01:40] The Oilers attempt to address another longstanding concern by signing Frederik Andersen, but Neil immediately questions whether Edmonton’s goaltending will be strong enough to support another championship run. [00:02:00] Andersen signs a one-year, $1 million contract and joins a goaltending group that also includes Tristan Jarry. [00:02:20] Edmonton also acquires Devon Levi and a 2028 seventh-round pick from Buffalo in exchange for a 2028 third-round selection, giving the Oilers another potential option in goal. [00:02:40] Vic believes Andersen will face a much different challenge in Edmonton. The quality and quantity of shots he sees could increase substantially compared with his years playing behind Carolina’s structure. [00:03:00] Edmonton has traditionally played a more wide-open style, raising the possibility that Babcock will attempt to make the Oilers more defensively responsible in order to protect his goaltenders. [00:03:20] Neil identifies Andersen’s injury history as another major concern. If Andersen misses significant time, the Oilers could quickly be forced to rely more heavily on their other goaltending options. [00:03:40] Levi possesses upside and could eventually become an important piece, but Neil still considers Edmonton’s overall goaltending situation a major question mark. [00:04:00] Babcock himself represents another unknown. He has been away from NHL coaching for an extended period, and Neil notes the controversies surrounding the end of his previous NHL opportunities. [00:04:20] The discussion turns to how Babcock will connect with a different generation of players and whether his approach can successfully translate to Edmonton’s current locker room. [00:04:40] Babcock will also inherit a revamped defense after Edmonton trades Darnell Nurse and his $9.5 million contract to San Jose. [00:05:00] The Oilers receive defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp in the Nurse deal, creating a significant change to the composition of Edmonton’s blue line. [00:05:20] Edmonton further addresses the defense by signing Ryan Shea from Pittsburgh to a five-year contract worth $4 million per season. [00:05:40] The Oilers retain restricted free agents Spencer Stastney and Colton Dach while also keeping several other depth pieces on the roster. [00:06:00] Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy arrive from Chicago, while Kasperi Kapanen and Max Jones remain part of Edmonton’s supporting cast. [00:06:20] Matthew Joseph also joins from Los Angeles, giving Babcock another veteran forward option as Edmonton attempts to strengthen the lineup around its superstars. [00:06:40] Among the departures, Calvin Pickard signs with Minnesota, while Jack Roslovic leaves Edmonton for the Toronto Maple Leafs. [00:07:00] Edmonton will need contributions from its younger players. Josh Samanski appeared in 24 games last season, while Isaac Howard played 29 and now faces pressure to prove he can establish himself permanently in the lineup. [00:07:20] Forward Quinn Hutson is another prospect to watch as the Oilers search internally for affordable young talent capable of strengthening their depth. [00:07:40] Despite Edmonton still having McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Vic questions whether the overall roster is strong enough for Babcock to turn the Oilers back into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. [00:08:00] Neil shares those doubts. He remembers Babcock’s championship success in Detroit but points out that those teams featured experienced veteran leaders and a very different generation of NHL players. [00:08:20] How Babcock adapts to the modern NHL—and how Edmonton’s players respond to him—becomes one of the league’s most fascinating coaching storylines entering the season. [00:08:40] The biggest long-term issue remains McDavid. With the superstar potentially reaching unrestricted free agency in two years, Edmonton has limited time to convince him that the organization can surround him with another championship-caliber roster. [00:09:00] Neil worries that if Edmonton does not significantly improve the team around McDavid, the captain could eventually decide his best opportunity to win lies somewhere else. [00:09:20] Vic asks whether Edmonton could benefit from a longer offseason after two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final. The additional recovery time could help players heal, condition, and prepare physically for another season. [00:09:40] Neil acknowledges that the extra rest could help individual players, particularly those dealing with injuries or fatigue, but he returns to the larger issue of the roster itself. [00:10:00] The episode concludes with Neil saying he simply does not see Edmonton improving as a team this season. The Oilers still have some of the greatest offensive talent in hockey, but questions about depth, goaltending, coaching, and McDavid’s future make 2026-27 a potentially defining season for the franchise.