Edmonton Oilers clean out lockers, reflect on season of failure and frustration
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers cleaned out their lockers Sunday after a campaign of high expectations and epic failure brightened only by Connor McDavid winning his second consecutive NHL scoring title.
“We came back from last year, and everyone was feeling really good about themselves. We just maybe thought it (success) was just going to happen,” McDavid told reporters at Rogers Place Sunday.
“Obviously nothing is given in this league. Everything is earned, and we learned that the hard way.”
The Oilers had been picked for the final four this spring, coming off an eighth-place regular season finish in 2016-17 and a second-round appearance in last year’s playoffs.