McDavid is the best player in today’s game, by far, and Draisaitl’s deal essentially provided the starting point in what stands to be a very short, if not pointless, discussion.

Draisaitl is reaching a new level of responsibility and maturity and the Oilers are betting that will pay off soon.

Back when he was hired, I said that Stan Bowman would likely make the second most consequential move of his entire time as General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers within his first two months on the job.