The Edmonton Oilers are not battling through this season; instead, they seem to be dragging through it. With the 9-1 loss to Nathan MacKinnon’s Colorado Avalanche, the mighty men in blue and orange have now lost three consecutive games. In a matter of a few days, the Oilers have lost to the bottom-tier St. Louis Blues, Mikko Rantanen’s Dallas Stars, and the Avs.
As the Oilers approach the make-or-break point of the season, captain Connor McDavid, who had decided to give the team another chance to redeem itself by extending his stay by two years, was caught giving his teammates a piece of his mind, with tension reaching a fever pitch following the humiliating loss to Colorado.
Connor McDavid Schools the Oilers Lineup As Team Sinks to the Bottom of the Pacific Division
MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Parker Kelly, and Jack Drury went on a scoring spree in the Avs’ showdown against the Oilers at Rogers Place. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood’s .958 save percentage cast a sinister shadow of doubt on the performances of Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, who registered a save percentage of .692 and .762, respectively.
Following the devastating turn of events on home ice, HC Kris Knoblauch stated in a media availability that the game could prove to be a turning point for many in the roster who have come to assume a sense of overconfidence. Knoblauch further stated that Edmonton is nowhere near the Avalanche, which is currently reigning over the Central Division with 25 points.
By all means, McDavid’s contract extension is akin to a ticking time bomb. There is reason to believe that if the team fails to land a Stanley Cup soon, McDavid will take his skills elsewhere. However, for now, the captain was seen aggressively addressing his teammates as the season apparently slips out of the Oilers’ hands.
McDavid appears exasperated in a clip shared by TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. The video also features defenseman Evan Bouchard, whose performance this season has drawn heavy criticism.
Conversation starts a little tense and eventually sorted out – notable but normal stuff for a frustrated group. pic.twitter.com/76pdlmudQt
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) November 9, 2025
According to Rishaug, McDavid stated that the team needs to channel the energy and mettle it showcases during practice skates into actual games. “Everybody has more to bring so you start seeing some of that in practice. It’s gotta translate into games.”
Moreover, the captain emphasized the importance of communication among teammates, as the Oilers have often appeared lost and out of touch with each other on the ice. “The game has felt at times unorganized and out of sync, so the only way to work that stuff out is to be talking and communicating with your teammates, so you’re gonna start to see some of that.”
While the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby has often been lauded for his exceptional captaincy, it has frequently been suggested that McDavid, despite being a generational talent, lacks comparable leadership skills. For the standout center, this season is a test of his ability to guide his team out of the bottomless pit it has fallen into.
