How Connor McDavid and the 'average' Oilers processed their latest disappointment

ANAHEIM, Calif. — It’s a simple question that, in some form or fashion, gets asked about every team after every season. Doesn’t matter the sport. What is the biggest problem here?For the 2025-26 Edmonton Oilers, who met their bitter end Thursday night at the hands of the younger, faster, healthier, hungrier Anaheim Ducks, the answer was never as straightforward as the question. Therein lies the problem — this time, there was no magic button to push for the two-time defending Western Conference champions. There was no single hole to patch. There was no sixth gear to hit. And now, courtesy of a 5-2 defeat in Game 5 of the first round, their 2026 playoff run ended before the calendar flipped to May.Advertisement