NHL playoffs Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers Anaheim Ducks Joel Quenneville

The Oilers' playoff elimination is often framed as a failure of the team itself rather than the strength of their opponents. But after Edmonton's Game 6 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, Connor McDavid dismantled that narrative with a single, incisive observation about the season.

"When you're an average team with high expectations," McDavid said, "you're going to be disappointed."

The Ducks, however, were a different challenge entirely. After four consecutive first-round exits against the Los Angeles Kings—a team often defined by its defensive structure—Edmonton faced a team that was younger, faster, and far more offensively potent. The Oilers, plagued by injuries and defensive lapses, simply couldn't keep up.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a key player for the Oilers, acknowledged the Ducks' superiority: "That's a real hockey team over there."

Despite their flaws, the Ducks present an intriguing case for fans. They play an unpolished, high-tempo game, often treating defensemen like offensive forwards who occasionally retreat. Even their goaltending defies convention—with a starter whose save percentage begins with a "9."

Ironically, the Oilers' coaching hire of Joel Quenneville may have overshadowed the Ducks' otherwise compelling playoff run.

Source: Defector
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