We’re right in the middle of the summer dead zone, the news is rolling in at a snail’s pace, and Oilers Twitter/X is quiet enough that all we’re getting is nonsense noise and long periods of silence. With that in mind, I thought I’d toss some gas on the fire with five BOLD predictions for the 2026-27 season. And while I will absolutely pretend I never said any of this stuff if things go sideways, you will never hear the end of it if I’m right about any of it. Let’s get into it.

1. Connor McDavid hits 50 goals… again

Watching Connor McDavid score 50 goals (64 in 2022-23) once was wonderful. Doing it again? That would be a magical adventure that would really do us a world of good after all the noise we’ve heard over the last six months. Last year, our beloved captain finished only two goals away from reaching the 50-goal mark for the second time in his career, and that came after an incredibly slow goal-scoring start to the season. In case you forgot, McDavid only had three goals through the first 14 games of the year. I just can’t see that happening again. I can’t see him going nearly 20% of the season again with only a field goal on his stat sheet.

This year? McDavid is healthy after being banged up in the playoffs. He’s motivated. The contract extension is in place. The coach he wanted is the coach he got. If that’s not a recipe for some McMagic, I don’t know what is. And after missing out on Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay awards despite claiming his sixth Art Ross Trophy,  I’m calling it here and now: Connor McDavid will come out firing from game one and pot 50 again for his second Rocket Richard Trophy. There’s nothing more dangerous than a motivated Connor McDavid, and I’m expecting this coming season to be one of No. 97’s best. Book it now, people.

2. Isaac Howard scores 20 goals

Alright, listen… Things didn’t necessarily go the way a lot of us hoped for Isaac Howard last year. A lot of people, mostly me, had this idea that he was going to come........

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