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Post being replied to

McDavid doesn't have to be an elite defensive center. by Rick Sanchez

And he's improved significantly in his own end over the last three seasons. If he continues to improve even a large amount there and continues to produce points at a higher rate than everyone else in the NHL, it won't increase Edmonton's shot at a Cup one bit.

Ovechkin is legitimately bad in his own end and he has a Cup. Mackinnon played an awful two-way game this season after an outlier of a season last year where he played well defensively. Ovie has a Cup and the Av's are the favorite in the Finals this year.

The Oilers' problem is their team is horribly constructed. They've made bad trades, bad signings, not great drafting and development outside of their top guys, poor coaching, etc. Also he plays in fucking Edmonton. How many big free agents are going to sign there v. New York, Philly, LA, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, and so on? Those issues are going to be McDavid's biggest obstacles to a Cup in Edmonton, not that he's mediocre in his own end.

If Edmonton misses the playoffs while he's still on this contract he should demand a trade. Otherwise he needs to be on the first flight out of there when he's a UFA. They will not win a Cup unless Holland makes some massive moves to address the dumptruck sized holes on that roster.