Connor McDavid Headed To Edmonton After Oilers Win Lottery

The Edmonton Oilers have landed another No. 1 pick overall and will take Connor McDavid in the NHL Lottery.

Not since Wayne Gretzky laced on his skates daily for the Oilers has a player meant so much to the franchise. A franchise that has languished through a decade of embarrassment for them and their fans in a city that is as passionate about hockey as anywhere.

The strange part is the Oilers continue to be a bad team and continue to get great picks.

In 2010, they had the overall No. 1 pick and took Taylor Hall. In 2011, it was Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. In 2012, it was Nail Yakupov, as well as a No. 7 overall during 2013 and a third overall pick in June of 2014, before winning a jackpot on Saturday, with the rights to the most promising hockey prospect since Sidney Crosby.

Rumors have filled the hockey airwaves that some teams played army and tanked to deliberately get a shot at landing the highly talented McDavid.

Edmonton thrilled its fans by making a surprising run all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006, but has not returned to the playoffs since then. The team has undergone rebuild after rebuild and is in the same place – mediocrity.

Craig MacTavish the Edmonton general manager has made good selections since taking that position in April of 2013. Those good picks from the past two seasons, were handed the most sought out hockey player on the planet when the Oilers won the lottery on Saturday.

Edmonton also has a new CEO who has only been there a year and Bob Nicholson knows the problems, understands them and his influence will be an important part of turning the franchise around.

Edmonton with the top pick in McDavid, might now trade another young forward such as Jordan Eberle in exchange for top defensive players that they desperately need.

Few people around the NHL were happy the Oilers were the lottery winners due to their decade of dreaded results. However, for their fans, some of the best hockey has, they are in for a load of fun.

Regardless of how anyone feels the savior of the game is bound for Edmonton and that city and franchise hopes that his presence will put them on top once again.

McDavid this past season for the Erie Otters scored 44 goals and handed out 76 assists for 120 points. At the age of 18, he has a huge career ahead of him and will look to help his future teammates return to glory.