Matthew Tkachuk Makes Intriguing Connor McDavid Stanley Cup Prediction
Matthew Tkachuk Makes Intriguing Connor McDavid Stanley Cup Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Florida Panthers left no doubt about who's best in Game 6, dispatching the Edmonton Oilers 5–1 to claim their second straight Stanley Cup.
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For the second year in a row, Oilers superstar Connor McDavid's season ended at the hands of Matthew Tkachuk, forcing Edmonton's captain to wait at least one more year to break out and win the Cup once and for all.
During his postgame interview, however, Tkachuk made one of the night's most interesting predictions, albeit he added an intriguing quirk to it.
"When you have a player that good and that talented, (McDavid) is going to win (the Stanley Cup) one day," Tkachuk said. "Wherever it is."
While predicting McDavid to eventually win a championship is far from a bold take, the fact that Tkachuk's comment included a final statement saying "wherever it is" instantly raised eyebrows.
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McDavid, still just 28, has been a longtime Oiler and has only played for Edmonton through his 10-year career. The center, however, has one year remaining on his eight-year, $100-million deal with Edmonton and could test the market as soon as July 1, 2026.
Forward Connor McDavid (97) has only played with Edmonton Oilers in his 10-year career.Bob Frid-Imagn Images
McDavid is first eligible to sign an extension as soon as July kicks off in less than two weeks, but no reports about such a deal being in place have emerged at any point.
Even in defeat, McDavid led the playoffs with 33 points, tied with teammate Leon Draisaitl. But the Oilers' stars were stifled in Game 6, with McDavid in particular going pointless and finishing with a minus-4.
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'We lost to a really good team,' McDavid said after the loss. 'Nobody quit, nobody threw the towel in, but they're a heck of a team. They're back-to-back Stanley Cup champions for a reason.'
Related: NHL Makes Historic Connor McDavid Announcement Amid Stanley Cup Final
Related: Panthers Not the Favorites in Initial 2026 Stanley Cup Odds
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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