There's been new players as well, and a slightly harder bottomsix and maturity on D pairs. My point being the AV's were not unbeatable and at the time the AV's had Kadri he was a player that was an absolute headcase every other year and so that the AV's were lucky to get his on year. With others like Nik he wasn't exactly an automatic at the time either and has always been a headcase.
Landeskog, maybe I miss recall, has been injured for years and was playing not 100% either that cup winning postseason. I threw that film in the trash. Never revisited that horrid series.
As often occurs what leads the way to a championship is a team coalescing and everybody getting on board and being their best. The Khights too last season were not unbeatable. With even respectable goaltending its a different series.
The Oilers to a man felt they were ultimately overmatched against the Avalanche. That's really the best source in considering the skill and will level of their championship run. The Landeskog loss I don't think they've ever recovered from. The inconsistency of Kadri is irrelevant. He was dialed in all that season and delivered in the playoffs. I get your pro Dallas (and Texas leanings) but the Aves steamrolled that playoff run. Still highly competitive but no where near the quality depth of their one and done year.
Last year's Golden Showers series was winnable and the players felt it was one they lost. Poor coaching, Line 2 getting buried without changing deployment, penalties and own zone mistakes, outscored at EV, and losing the goaltending battle. There's a reason that loss hit harder and more painful. It was a hard lesson about the margins to win or lose. Unlike the year before. It's growth and maturation. Seeing it now this playoff but still need more consistency.
EDIT: A healthy Landeskog had 22 points in 20 playoff games and +15 playing 21:00 toi average.
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