It's time for Connor McDavid to win the Cup 'right [expletive] now'

USA Today

30-05-2025

It's time for Connor McDavid to win the Cup 'right [expletive] now'
A championship is earned, not given.
But there are moments when you know when it's a star athlete's time. You've watched them grow, tweak their games, adjust their leadership, found the right combination of teammates and coach, perhaps maybe even find comfort off the court or field.
It's Connor McDavid's turn.
I say this knowing full well there's a buzzsaw waiting for him in the Stanley Cup Finals. His Edmonton Oilers will once again face the Florida Panthers, the defending Cup champions who are built for postseason play with depth, ferocity and veteran savvy.
But I'll be rooting for the NHL's generational star to finally get over the hump and win it. He was so close last year, with a seven-game series ending in a heartbreaking 2-1 win for the Panthers in the final winner-takes-all contest.
I think back to that clip of him that FACEOFF: Inside the NHL captured, in which cameras found him screaming at his Oilers teammates in the locker room: "RIGHT [EXPLETIVE] NOW!"
Maybe McDavid and the Oilers have learned from that experience. Maybe they now know that it takes an extra gear to take down a playoff-tested team like the Panthers. Maybe this is the best shot they'll have with this deep roster, better goaltending and a coach in Kris Knoblauch with an added year of experience.
What I know is it's McDavid's time to win it all. Now, he's just got to go and get it.
The Knicks figure it out (is it too late?)
Hi! Life-long Knicks fan here! I'll tell you how I'm feeling after a Game 5 in which my team never looked back: "Awesome job pushing off elimination ... but the Pacers are going to bring it in Game 6 at home. What are you going to do to combat that?"
Because: the Knicks had intensity on both ends of the court. Karl-Anthony Towns continues to pile up dumb fouls, but at least he's also continued to torch the Pacers on offense. The second unit with [Knicks fan chant] LAN-DRY SHA-MET continues to flummox Indiana. And I know Tyrese Haliburton is going to watch that game tape and know he's got to do what he did in Game 4.
So, the Knicks simply have to replicate that for two more games. It's doable.
Quick hits: BEAR IN BRISTOL! ... Oh no, AJSS ... and more.
-- There's a bear roaming around on ESPN's Bristol campus. Be safe out there.
-- AJ Smith-Shawver got some help from a Braves teammate when it came to his injury. Meanwhile, lip-readers think he talked about hearing a "pop."
-- John Mellencamp -- yes, the singer/songwriter! -- ripped Pat McAfee for the personality's NSFW speech at the Pacers' Game 4.
-- Matthew Stafford had some laughs over playing Olympic flag football.
This is For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. This was Charles Curtis.