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McKenzie’s comment generally checks out: there’s only been one other collapse like the Oilers had last year

Hockey’s most careful and sober analyst Bob McKenzie of TSN made about as strong a comment as you’ll hear from him earlier this week, his assessment on the state of the Edmonton Oilers organization.

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McKenzie’s statement was so provocative that not only did tweeters tweet and bloggers blog about it, but five days later Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was asked to address the issues raised.

But how fair was McKenzie’s comment? I’ve gone back and forth on that, but wanted to dig in deeper.

Let’s start with McKenzie’s comment itself: “I think the way most people look at it, every year you have a Connor McDavid-led team that misses the playoffs that is a crime against hockey humanity. I think that would be especially true this season after they didn’t do it last season. I mean McDavid’s game is on its own level and it would be absolutely criminal if the Edmonton Oilers cannot find a way to surround him with enough talent to get this team back into the playoffs.”