Latest news with #MontrealCanadiens
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Are Habs fans cheering for the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup final?
As the Edmonton Oilers face off against the Florida Panthers for the second year in a row, we asked Montreal Canadiens fans if they're putting aside their loyalty to the bleu, blanc, rouge for the chance to have the Stanley Cup back on Canadian soil.
CNN
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Stanley Cup: The storied, sometimes questionable and funny, history of one of sports' greatest trophies
(CNN) — It's one of the most recognizable trophies in sports, with a history dating back to the 19th century, so it's no surprise that the Stanley Cup has a story or two to tell. Named after Lord Stanley of Preston, a Canadian governor general who donated the first Cup back in 1892, the trophy is awarded to the NHL champions every year. It is, and always has been, the pinnacle of the sport and something players dedicate their entire lives to winning. With that being the case, it's perhaps predictable that those who manage to get their hands on the trophy are keen to celebrate, especially since it is tradition that every player of the winning squad gets to spend an entire day with the prized silverware. Problem is, that's left the poor old Stanley Cup in some unusual situations. CNN Sports looks at some of the most bizarre predicaments it's ended up in. Montreal Canadiens In almost cartoon-like fashion, the Montreal Canadiens left the trophy on the side of the road after winning it in 1924. The story goes that a car carrying some of the team had stalled going up a hill, meaning players had to get out to push. It wasn't until they reached the top that they realized they had left one of the most famous trophies in the world behind! Prized possession The Stanley Cup is looked after by a team of people with the title of 'Keeper of the Cup.' These people travel with the trophy, keeping it clean and, more importantly, safe. At least one member of the team is always with the trophy when it's in public. 'We get called different things too. People have fun with it. They call us Cup keepers, Cup dudes, Cup guys. You know, handlers is all kinds of terms, but in essence, we're basically babysitting the Cup,' Howie Burrow, Keeper of the Cup, told CNN Sports. Edmonton Oilers It's only natural that players want to party after finally getting their hands on the trophy and that seemed to be the case with the Edmonton Oilers following the magical final series in 1987, where the Oilers blew a 3-1 series lead, but managed to pull off the win in Game 7 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Led by Mark Messier, both on and off the ice, the Oilers reportedly went partying to celebrate and accidentally damaged the Stanley Cup over the course of the night, requiring repairs before being returned. Global tour The Stanley Cup has traveled to dozens of countries around the world, including places such as Afghanistan, Japan, Scotland and the UAE. It doesn't get a first-class seat, though. Instead, it flies underneath the airplane in a very secure box. 'When I'm getting my boarding passes, I'll open it up to show whoever's checking me in, but soon as I do that, there's usually about a dozen people in the other lines going, 'Oh my God, that's a Stanley Cup. Can I get a photo? Can I touch it?'' Burrow told CNN. Pittsburgh Penguins One thing the trophy's handlers insist on is that the Cup shouldn't get wet – although that didn't stop the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now legendary photos show the team celebrating with the trophy in Canadian star Mario Lemieux's swimming pool. Luckily, though, it seems like the trophy floated. All shapes and sizes The Stanley Cup we see today has been the same shape since 1948, but it hasn't always looked the same. The first ever iteration of the trophy, back in 1892, was just a bowl and was called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. Over the years, more tiers have been added to it and now the Cup stands at 35.25 inches and weighs 34.5 pounds. 'If you have to hang on to it for a long time and say, you have to walk a block or two because you're following somebody, it does get heavy. You're switching arms, or you got to put it down. You can work up a good sweat. But when the players first win it, right after on the ice, I mean, I'm sure it weighs hardly anything to them,' Burrow said to CNN. New York Rangers It seems even animals can enjoy the 'People's trophy.' In 1994, a photo was taken of Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin eating out of the trophy while at New York's Belmont Park. New York Rangers star Eddie Olczyk was rumored to be behind the stunt, but he's since denied responsibility. Etched into history Each player of the winning team has their name etched into a band which is then placed onto the trophy – with older bands being retired through the years. Given the number of winners, it's not surprising that a few spelling mistakes have creeped onto the prestigious Cup. Detroit Red Wings What's the worst thing you could imagine happening to – or in – the Stanley Cup? Well, this might be it. When Kris Draper had his day with the trophy, he celebrated by putting his baby daughter in the Cup for a photo. Only she left behind a little surprise… by using the legendary trophy as a toilet. Summer tour Since 1995, every player who wins the Stanley Cup is allowed a day to celebrate with it – sometimes two – in any way they deem fit. The trophy is then returned to NHL trustees before the new season, meaning every team bids to win the prestigious trophy again. Pittsburgh Penguins Forward Josh Archibald got creative and used his time with the Cup to baptize his son. Three-week-old Brecken was photographed receiving his blessing while sitting in the bowl at the top of the trophy. Quite the experience for someone not even a month out in the world. Record winners No team in history has gotten its hands on the Stanley Cup more than the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs have won it 24 times, including a record five-in-a-row from 1956 to 1960. The franchise's first win came in 1916 – before the NHL even ran the tournament. The Canadiens haven't won it since 1993, though, and last reached the final in 2021.
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Rocket lose 3-2 to Checkers in four games
Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent watches play during third period AHL hockey action in Laval, Que., on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) The Laval Rocket saved their best for last, but the last goal they allowed was a big part of what went wrong in the Eastern Conference Final. Jesse Puljujarvi broke the deadlock late in the third period, and the Charlotte Checkers beat the Rocket 3-2 on Tuesday night to advance to the Calder Cup final. The Montreal Canadiens' secondary team could be blamed for letting a 2-0 lead slip in the second period, but they looked much more structured in the final third. As the minutes ticked away, extra time seemed inevitable. Then came the fatal error with 2:04 remaining. The game did not go to plan. Puljujarvi deflected a pass from Rasmus Asplund into the neutral zone and outran Brandon Gignac into enemy territory. The puck was out of his reach when goalkeeper Jacob Fowler and defenceman Zack Hayes were caught in the middle. Hayes dived and pushed the disc onto the blade of the Finn's stick, who sent it into a net abandoned by Fowler's exit. Two minutes later, the Rocket's season was over, swept aside in four games. 'I have to read up on him (Hayes). When you're trying to get back into a series, I have to be better at it. I want to learn from that and not make that mistake again,' said Fowler, who got his first start in this series after two appearances replacing Cayden Primeau. In front of the media, the 20-year-old admirably took the blame for the goal, but head coach Pascal Vincent was far from pointing the finger. 'It's a game of mistakes. These things happen, and it happens so quickly. It's easy to look at a goalkeeper or a defender who's made a mistake, or the combination of the two, but how many mistakes have been made in front of them, and we don't talk about it because it doesn't end in a goal. I'm proud of Jacob tonight,' said Vincent. It was a sentiment shared by the players in the dressing room. 'This is a team sport and everyone makes mistakes. You can't point the finger at anyone. I'm proud of this group,' said striker Joshua Roy. On the brink of the abyss, the team played the best game of the final but once again fell victim to turnovers that slowed their momentum, suffering the consequences of the Checkers' opportunism. Although the defeat was difficult to digest, Vincent preferred to keep his men's last public performance in mind rather than look back on the three previous under-performances. 'We asked the lads to keep believing, and they did. We asked them to empty their tanks, and they did. I think we deserved a better fate tonight,' he said. 'It was our best game of the series, and it's going to take a bit of time to digest because we've had such a great season, but when we take stock, there are going to be a lot of positives. That was our identity tonight.' With their eighth consecutive win, the Checkers will be in the American League Final for the first time since 2019. That year, they lifted the Calder Cup. The Florida Panthers' farm club now awaits the winner of the Western Association final, between the Texas Stars and the Abbotsford Canucks. Roy and Owen Beck threaded the needle in defeat, while Fowler made 23 saves. Justin Sourdif and MacKenzie Entwistle also got things moving for the Checkers, who were coming off a sweep at the expense of the Hershey Bears, two-time defending Calder Cup champions. Kaapo Kahkonen turned away 23 pucks. Unable to close the books Nobody was surprised to see the Rocket playing with a lot of energy at the start of the first period. The Checkers, however, resisted well. The two teams then played a real game of chess, during which there weren't many chances to score. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Lucas Condotta were denied by Kahkonen in quick succession, while Puljujarvi was denied by Fowler in the enclave. Then, during a numerical disadvantage, Alex Barré-Boulet took advantage of a miscalculated rebound from the boards by defender Trevor Carrick to break free, but he was unable to open the scoring. The Rocket finally found a way to take the lead for the first time in this series, with Roy winning his battle in the enclave and deflecting a shot from Gustav Lindstrom's point to hit the target with just 45 seconds remaining. Momentum was often the issue during the series, and the Rocket maintained it early in the second period. Sustained pressure from Roy and Gignac allowed Beck to accept a pass from Noel Hoefenmayer to double his side's lead. Unfortunately for Pascal Vincent's team, they shot themselves in the foot. Just 1:40 after Beck's goal, Harvey-Pinard allowed a turnover in the attacking zone, and Sourdif came in overtime. Sourdif made the right decision and fired home to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Rocket was able to work for five minutes with an extra man after Riley Bezeau was awarded a major penalty for checking Lindstrom in the head, but his lack of execution hurt them. Sean Farrell committed a turnover in the centre, and on a two-on-one build-up, Entwistle deceived Fowler in the same way as Sourdif. The Checkers gave their opponents a little warning in the fifth minute of the final third, but Wilmer Skoog's shot hit the post to Fowler's right. As the pressure mounted, caution was the order of the day, although some attacks ended up close to the net of both goalkeepers. The score remained unchanged until Puljujarvi's heartbreaking goal. – This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 3, 2024.
Winnipeg Free Press
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
From local connections to grizzled vets
No, the 2024-25 NHL season is not finished, even if it might feel that way to many fans. The league didn't do itself any favours by going dark for five nights after the Florida Panthers and then the Edmonton Oilers punched their tickets to the Stanley Cup Final last week. But TV commitments, including stickhandling around the NBA Finals, meant an extended timeout. Good news: The waiting game is now over and the puck will finally drop on Wednesday night inside Rogers Place. It's the first championship rematch in 16 years and this series should be a dandy. These teams have plenty in common. They both finished third in their respective divisions during the regular season, essentially pacing themselves so they'd be ready when the stage got bigger. They've found another gear in the playoffs, winning three straight rounds in which they started on the road. There's no shortage of compelling storylines and reasons to tune in — even for folks around these parts who might have lost interest once the Winnipeg Jets were eliminated from contention last month. Let's dig into a few of the juiciest ones: WOE, CANADA: It has been 32 long years since the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings in five games to win the Stanley Cup for the 24th time in franchise history. Since then, the silver chalice has had a zip code rather than a postal code. Is this the year the Canadian championship drought finally ends? The Oilers (2006, 2024), Vancouver Canucks (1994, 2011), Calgary Flames (2004) and Montreal Canadiens (2021) have combined to go zero-for-six in the Final over that span, so hockey history would suggest a team from the Great White North is long overdue. Why not the one led by the game's best current player? Jason Franson / THE CANADIAN PRESS Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid raising the Stanley Cup would mimic Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky's own first Cup wins — meeting the same team in back-to-back Finals and defeating them on their second try. Jason Franson / THE CANADIAN PRESS Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid raising the Stanley Cup would mimic Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky's own first Cup wins — meeting the same team in back-to-back Finals and defeating them on their second try. Connor McDavid raising the trophy to the rafters would be rather fitting considering the way two other NHL mega-stars captured their first Cups. Wayne Gretzky finished as a runner-up in his inaugural bid as his Oilers were swept by the mighty Islanders in 1983. But the 'Great One' would win his first of four titles in 1984 as Edmonton found a way to end the New York dynasty (four straight championships). Sidney Crosby came up short in his first attempt back in 2008 as his Penguins were defeated by the Red Wings. However, the tables were turned the following spring as Pittsburgh downed Detroit in a thrilling seven-game series. 'The Kid' would go on to win two more times, in 2016 and 2017. Look, we get that Canadian hockey fans aren't exactly a united bunch. The majority of Jets supporters, for example, would rather walk on hot coals than cheer for the Oilers. You'll find similar sentiments in every market. But we say it's high time to have a little patriotic puck pride and tell Uncle Sam he can sit this one out for a change. THE LOCAL CONNECTIONS: This series is loaded with local angles, from those with strong Manitoba roots to former members of the Jets, both on the ice and behind the bench. Last spring, former Jets bench boss Paul Maurice finally got his name engraved on Lord Stanley's mug after an exciting Game 7 triumph. Having former Jets associate coach Jamie Kompon beside him for the ride enhanced the experience. There's also some Manitoba flavour on Maurice's coaching staff with video coach Myles Fee, who hails from Dauphin and was once a defenceman on the Dauphin Kings in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Panthers' blue line features Nate Schmidt, who has done an excellent job on the third pairing after the final season of his contract was bought out by the Jets last summer. Schmidt has three goals and seven points and has appeared in all 17 games during the playoffs. Schmidt's most frequent defence partner has been former Jet Dmitry Kulikov, who was on the Jets' third pairing during the run to the Western Conference final in 2018. As for the Oilers, they wouldn't have reached this point without the strong play between the pipes from Winnipegger Calvin Pickard during the first two rounds. Matt Krohn / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Oilers goaltender and Winnipeg product Calvin Pickard propelled Edmonton's run past the first round after standing tall against the Los Angeles Kings. Matt Krohn / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Oilers goaltender and Winnipeg product Calvin Pickard propelled Edmonton's run past the first round after standing tall against the Los Angeles Kings. Pickard got the call from Kris Knoblach for Game 3 in the first round and quickly rattled off six victories before suffering a lower-body injury. He returned to the backup role in Game 4 against the Dallas Stars and is on call if his services are required. Former Jets left-winger Evander Kane is having an incredible impact for someone who sat out the entire regular season. With six goals and 11 points in 15 games, Kane sits fifth in team scoring, just behind defenceman Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl and McDavid. That's impressive stuff and Kane's ability to crash the crease and play a physical game will be essential against Mathew Tkachuk and the Panthers. Former Jets D-man Mark Stuart is an assistant coach with the Oilers and is in charge of a penalty killing unit that's encountered some ups-and-downs, but will be relied on heavily against a Panthers power play that is operating at 23.2 per cent through 17 games. THE GRIZZLED VETERANS: Two of the oldest players in the NHL are four wins away from the second Stanley Cup of their respective careers — and both are playing an important role. Acquiring Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins just under the wire at the NHL trade deadline was a stroke of genius by Panthers general manager Bill Zito. Marchand, 37, has been a perfect fit for the bruising, yet skilled game the Panthers like to play. Used on the so-called third line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, Marchand has been at his agitating best while chipping in at nearly a point per game pace (with four goals and 14 points in 17 playoff games). He's looking for his first title since winning it all with the Bruins in 2011 in what was his first full season and has been back only once since — losing to the St. Louis Blues in seven games in 2019. John Locher / THE CANADIAN PRESS Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry scores against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. The 40-year-old winger has seven goals and 10 points in 16 playoff games this spring. John Locher / THE CANADIAN PRESS Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry scores against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. The 40-year-old winger has seven goals and 10 points in 16 playoff games this spring. For the Oilers, Corey Perry continues to hold off Father Time with his blend of sandpaper and skill. Although his game has evolved from his days as a Hart Trophy and Rocket Richard Trophy winner back in 2011, the 40-year-old winger has seven goals and 10 points in 16 playoff games this spring. That's outstanding production on an Oilers team that's had a number of players step up in the secondary scoring department. Perry, who suited up for Team Canada at the memorable World Junior Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, N.D., back in 2005, is about to play in his sixth Stanley Cup final — and fifth in the past six years. But he hasn't won it all since his first trip with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. One of these grizzled veterans is going to be a multiple Stanley Cup champion at some point during the next couple of weeks. And don't be surprised if they spend some time in this series getting under one another's skin in between providing important goals for their respective teams. THE GOALIE BATTLE: This will be one of the most fascinating stories of this series. On paper, the Panthers figure to have a decisive edge, since Sergei Bobrovsky is playing even better than he did last spring when he led the Panthers to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. There's probably nobody who benefited more from the lengthy break than Bobrovsky, who is 12-5 with a 2.11 goals-against average and .912 save percentage this spring (compared to going 16-8 with a 2.32 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in the 2024 playoffs). But that's part of the beauty of hockey. Many numbers can be informative, but the unpredictable nature of the goalie position makes it difficult to discern why certain things are happening on any given night. Karl DeBlaker / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is 12-5 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage during this season's playoff run. Karl DeBlaker / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is 12-5 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage during this season's playoff run. That's what makes the journey of Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner so interesting. For the second consecutive spring, Stuart lost the net to Pickard — this time after consecutive losses to the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round. When the opportunity to return to the crease came, Skinner showed he was ready and he's racked up six wins of his own since that time. For the second consecutive spring, Skinner outplayed Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final and he's ready for his second taste of the Stanley Cup final. MIKE SAYS: Take the following with a massive grain of salt considering I'm just 7-7 so far in my predictions this spring. Truth be told, the Oilers have surprised me every step of the way — I had them losing to Los Angeles, then Vegas, then Dallas. I'm not going to make the same mistake a fourth time. Although I love how the Panthers play and feel foolish picking against them, I think the Oilers find a way to get the job done in what should be another epic battle. Just like last year, this one is going the distance, but McDavid stands tall at the end and is named playoff MVP. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. KEN SAYS: Things have gone a bit sideways in the predictions game since a 6-2 start to the post-season in the opening round. After going 1-3 in the second, I correctly had the Panthers but didn't have the Oilers advancing, so that leaves me at 8-6 going into this Stanley Cup final. The Oilers are virtually clicking on all cylinders and their improved defensive play has many predicting the Canadian team drought is about to end. Getting Mattias Ekholm back is a huge boost on the back end for the Oilers, but the loss of energetic winger Zach Hyman is a massive blow — even with so many others doing their part at both ends of the ice. For me, not having Hyman tips the scales in what looks like a pick-'em series and that's why I'm taking the Panthers in six, with Bobrosvky getting the nod as the Conn Smythe winner. X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Mike McIntyreReporter Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer. Read full biography Ken WiebeReporter Raised in the booming metropolis of Altona, Man., Ken Wiebe grew up wanting to play in the NHL, but after realizing his hands were more adept at typing than scoring, he shifted his attention to cover his favourite sport as a writer. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. 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New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Canada's 32-year Stanley Cup drought is now embarrassing. Can the Oilers end it?
If you took a DeLorean back to June 9, 1993, and tried to explain to those gathered at the Montreal Forum what was taking place in the NHL today, in 2025, no one would believe you. That day, the Montreal Canadiens wiped the floor with an overmatched Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings team in Game 5. The Habs hoisted their record 24th Stanley Cup, 18 of which they had won over the previous 40 years, and planned their usual parade down Rue Sainte-Catherine. Advertisement Yes, there was a time when Canadian teams not only won the Stanley Cup, but one team alone won it nearly 45 percent of the time. As a child of the '90s, I remember those days well. Back then we assumed Canada's clubs would just keep winning and having Cup parades because they always did, with the occasional intrusion from the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins. Montreal was always the standard-bearer, but if you add in the Toronto Maple Leafs' dominance of the 1960s, the Edmonton Oilers' run in the 1980s and a lone championship for the Calgary Flames in 1989, the Cup practically lived in Canada between 1953 and 1993, going to an NHL team from this country 28 times in 41 seasons. And then: nothing. There are some incredible stats from Canada's Cup drought. Consider that when the Stanley Cup Final opens Wednesday in Edmonton, it will be just the second time in the past 32 years that a Canadian NHL team has had home-ice advantage in the final. (The other was the Vancouver Canucks in 2011, a series that ended about as horribly as possible for what was a deep, 117-point team.) There have been many close calls, for sure. Five Canadian teams have lost in Game 7 of the Cup final over those 32 years, including the Canucks in 1994 and 2011, the Flames in 2004, and Oilers in 2006 and 2024 — last year to the same Florida Panthers team they face this time around. Consider, too, that the Canadian franchise with the most playoff wins since 1993 is actually the woebegone Leafs, a franchise that hasn't made a Cup final since 1967. Their 89 postseason victories over that span are tied for 14th in the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks. And it translates to just 2.78 wins per season, less than one series victory. (The Detroit Red Wings lead the way with 160 playoff wins in that span, more than double what most of the seven Canadian teams have managed.) Taken together, it's a whole lot of pain for a country that loves hockey so much that it's become ingrained in its identity as a national sport. The reasons for Canada's weird — and, at this point, embarrassing — Cup drought are myriad. Winnipeg, for one, has a good excuse, given its Jets were relocated out of the league for 14 of those 31 seasons and then gifted an awful Atlanta Thrashers roster in 2011 as compensation. They've since built a strong franchise on the ice, winning the Presidents' Trophy this year as the NHL's top team despite playing in one of the smallest markets in the Big Four sports. Advertisement Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and even Vancouver have struggled through periods of economic challenges, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s when relocations were still in vogue — Minnesota, Quebec and Hartford all lost teams in a span of four years in addition to Winnipeg — and the Canadian dollar hit an all-time low of less than 62 cents versus the American dollar. These days, it's become commonplace in this country to blame the Sun Belt teams for the drought, pointing to players wanting to play in warm-weather climates with more favorable tax situations. Though that's become more of a factor over the past decade, what's also clear is that a lot of the Canadian franchises' misery has been self-inflicted the last three decades. There have been meddling owners who overruled their front offices and/or denied the pursuit of necessary rebuilds. There have also been poor hires in management, with some of the NHL's weakest general managers of the past 30 years putting in long tenures in Canadian cities. Beyond struggles to woo free agents, for some of the reasons listed above, the Canadian teams haven't been great at drafting or pro scouting, generally speaking. There have been moments of success and examples of strong teams, but they've rarely been powerhouses. Of the NHL's 50 best regular seasons since 1993, for example, just seven of those teams were based in Canada. Only those ill-fated 2010-11 Canucks make the top 25. Which brings us to this year's Oilers, a team that has what is likely the best chance of any to finally end Canada's drought. Not only was Edmonton one game away last season — and one goal away in Game 7 — but it also now has home-ice advantage and a stronger roster than a year ago. The Oilers boast two of the best playoff performers in league history, with captain Connor McDavid and alternate Leon Draisaitl, an elite defenseman in Evan Bouchard, and depth so impressive they've been sitting out established NHL players throughout the postseason. Advertisement There are weaknesses, too — with a question mark in goal probably the biggest one — but everyone is expecting this to be a coin-flip of a series, despite the fact the Panthers are such a strong club they are in their third consecutive final and have the makings of a salary-cap-era dynasty. Do the Oilers offer a blueprint for the other Canadian teams, though? Not exactly, not given the tortured road they took, bottoming out longer and harder than any of them. Between 1993 and when they drafted McDavid first in 2015, Edmonton had the NHL's fourth-worst record. That includes the first decade of the cap era when they were dead last by a mile, picking first four times in six years between Taylor Hall (in 2010), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Nail Yakupov (2012) and McDavid. If there's a lesson in the Oilers' success, it's in what came next. They convinced McDavid to sign long-term out of his entry-level deal, at a discount. They did the same with Draisaitl, too. Around those two massive pillars, through trial and error, they finally put competent management in place and found enough supporting pieces to get them to here, where they're one of the best teams in the league. Along the way, Edmonton also built a world-class facility in Rogers Place in 2016 and became more of a free-agent destination, wooing key depth players like Zach Hyman, Corey Perry, Connor Brown and Adam Henrique, among others. McDavid and Draisaitl were obviously an enormous part of their on-ice success and building a culture that drew players in, but the Oilers are still proof that it can be done in Canada. You can draft good players and get them to stay. And you can win a lot of games if you give them a hand. We'll see whether it's enough to topple the juggernaut that is this Panthers team, starting with Game 1 at home. Not everyone will necessarily climb aboard the bandwagon up here in Canada, not when Edmonton is a key rival to the other teams out West, but it's fair to say there will be some extra support beyond the Albertan capital for this one. For many Canadians, it just feels like it's time to finally win one again.
