Oilers should take Connor McDavid's harsh comments seriously

This is not the first time one of Edmonton's top stars has been critical of the coaching.

Earlier this season, Leon Draisaitl, who is currently sidelined for what could be the remainder of the regular season, drew some heat for saying everybody on the team needed to be better, including the coaches. 

Even though the Oilers have been to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals (losing both), this is still a team that has some very serious flaws all over the roster. The goaltending situation is a mess. They do not defend particularly well. They have almost quality depth beyond McDavid and Draisaitl, with the team being outscored by a 43-73 margin during 5-on-5 play when neither player is on the ice. Nothing about that looks like a Stanley Cup contender. Two great players can help get you into the playoffs. They can help make you entertaining to watch. But they need more help around them if they are ever going to win.

Management has to take responsibility for that. Coaching has to take some responsibility for that.

But here's why Edmonton needs to be concerned about this: McDavid is only signed through the end of the 2027-28 season. His most recent contract extension with the team was only a two-year deal that was an extremely team-friendly contract. It was worth the same salary cap number ($12.5 million per season) as his previous contract. Given how much the salary cap is increasing over the next two years, that is basically a pay cut when you take into account what percentage of the salary cap it is. He gave the Oilers more salary cap flexibility to build a team around him. 

Every year he goes without winning a Stanley Cup, the more pressure he is going to get in terms of winning one. Great players, whether it is fair or not, are heavily judged by whether or not they get a championship. McDavid is still searching, and the Oilers have consistently failed to put the best possible team around him. 

At some point, he is going to get tired of that, and it almost felt like a two-year contract extension was something of a "show me" message to the Oilers. "Show me" potentially means, "show me you can put the necessary talent around me to win."

So far, they are failing. 

When his next contract expires, he will still only be 31 years old. He will still have several years of elite hockey in front of him. If the Oilers are still struggling around him, he would be in a great position to look elsewhere for a team that can give him the help and support he needs. 

Whether it is a coaching change this season (there is still time for that), or better roster moves over the summer, or a combination of both, the Oilers should be concerned with their best players calling things out. Especially when it is in admiration of a team with a track record of championships.