Johnston: Edmonton Oilers are Stanley Cup favorites - Images via Getty

Chris Johnston makes his opinion on Edmonton Oilers being 2025 Stanley Cup favorites absolutely clear

Modified Oct 07, 2024 19:14 GMT

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers were one goal away from lifting the 2024 Stanley Cup. After tying the Stanley Cup Final at 3-3 despite falling to an early 3-0 deficit, the Oilers had a chance to bring Stanley Cup glory back to Canada. However, they fell short in Game 7, and the Florida Panthers lifted the coveted Stanley Cup.

Days before the 2024-25 NHL regular season starts, the Oilers are the favorites to lift the 2025 Stanley Cup, according to BetMGM. Initially, they had +1000 odds to be crowned champs. However, owing to the offseason moves made by new manager Stan Bowman, they have now been lifted to +800 odds to win it all this upcoming season.

TSN's NHL insider Chris Johnston appeared on Edmonton Sports Talk on Sunday. He gave his thoughts on Faceoff: Inside the NHL, an Amazon docuseries that stars Oilers' Connor McDavid in the last two episodes of season 1. He also discussed how close he and the Oilers were to winning the Stanley Cup last season.

When asked about his 2025 Stanley Cup favorites, Johnston replied:

"The Oilers would be my pick consistently, wherever I have to make one."

Johnston hailed the Oilers' star-studded forward line, which included Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane (currently injured), and their latest offseason additions Viktor Arvidsson & Jeff Skinner.

"It’s hard not to like the forward group. They scored a ton of goals last year, and I think that will be the same now," he said.

Also read: Analyst Craig Button points out Oilers’ blue line weakness as barrier to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's Cup aspiration

Johnston demands more from Edmonton Oilers' highest-paid D-man Darnell Nurse

Darnell Nurse is among the highest-paid D-men in the NHL and the highest-paid defenseman on the Edmonton Oilers roster. He signed an eight-year, $74,000,000 extension that expires at the end of the 2029-30 regular season.

Nurse has not performed well in recent years to justify his $9.25M AAV contract. He had 32 points from 81 games during the 2023-24 regular season. Nurse accrued only six points playing an average of 18:50 minutes each game in the Oilers' 25 postseason games.

Johnston said Nurse was one of the players who should perform and contribute to Edmonton Oilers' success.

"can they get more out of Darnell Nurse this year? I mean, is there a world where he can contribute better? ..... when you’re paying someone that amount of money, that’s a place they can improve," he said on Edmonton Sports Talk.

Also read: Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch provides crucial injury update on Darnell Nurse

Having lost players like Holloway, Broberg, Ceci, Gagner, Desharnais, Foegele, Carrick, and McLeod, many considered the Oilers to have a less in-depth lineup than during last year's playoffs. Johnston brushed off any worries about the Oilers' lack of depth and opined they have the best players, currently in the NHL, playing their primes, and have gathered decent experience from recent playoff runs.

".... I think they’re going to still have room to maneuver in-season, make adjustments, or add even more firepower to the cause as they get closer to the playoffs," he added.

Despite having depth in every position, Johnston hinted the Oilers might make some additions, especially to aid their blue line, before the March trade deadline to help their playoffs push.