How Will the Aging Curve Impact Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl?

The Edmonton Oilers possess the ultimate luxury of building around two future Hall of Famers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But as both superstars prepare to enter their 30s and embark on their second decade in the NHL, a critical question looms: How long can Edmonton sustain a championship window around them? In today’s episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down the realities of NHL superstar aging curves and what they mean for the Oilers' long-term planning. We analyze how player value peaks early in hockey compared to other sports, why the rapidly expanding $104 million salary cap changes the roster-building equation, and how statistical trends show veteran stars evolving defensively later in their careers. To put McDavid and Draisaitl’s futures into perspective, we compare their trajectories to contemporary icons and legends who played through their 30s—including Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, Evgeni Malkin, Nikita Kucherov, and John Tavares. Can the Oilers replicate the Pittsburgh Penguins' blueprint by finding internal depth pieces to ignite a second wave of contention before time runs out? Plus, we look at the crucial role of the Oilers' supporting cast—from Evan Bouchard and Zach Hyman to Vasili Podkolzin—and debate whether the front office's win-now short-sightedness is hindering the development of the franchise's youngest assets 04:52 Discussing NHL player aging and contracts 07:28 Impact of Player Value on Team Dynamics 13:20 Oilers urgency with McDavid and Draisaitl 14:59 Analyzing Crosby's scoring consistency 17:34 Penguins players' career performance 21:06 Oilers' reliance on McDavid and Draisaitl 24:32 Pod Colson's future with the team 27:46 Discussing player longevity and performance Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! HimsTo get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/LOCKEDONNHL. Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.