When the final horn sounded in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers had come up just short again. The Oilers have arguably the two best scorers in the NHL — there’s little doubt about their talent. But it’s fair to start asking whether Connor McDavid can win the Stanley Cup before the Oilers’ window closes.
McDavid didn’t put the puck in the net much in the SCF, but the Oilers’ failure isn’t on him. Look no further than his electric play in Game 2 to see how much Connor McDavid can elevate his team. Blaming McDavid would be like blaming Shohei Ohtani for the Angels not making the playoffs while he was there. The Angels were missing some key pieces, like the Oilers are now. And like Ohtani knew a couple of years ago, free agency looms for McDavid soon.
Why The Oilers Won’t Win the Cup
The Oilers didn’t get timely scoring in the Stanley Cup Final, but a couple of other issues plagued the team. The team discipline wasn’t there, and goaltending was inconsistent at best.
You don’t need a legendary goaltender to win the Stanley Cup. Sure, it helps to have a Martin Brodeur or Patrick Roy between the pipes, but that’s not the only way to win. However, you need a consistent performer who doesn’t wilt in the big moments.
Edmonton fans: Were you breathing a sigh of relief when either Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard was announced as the starter for the next game? Nothing against either of those players. They’re both worthy of being starters in the NHL. But Sergei Bobrovsky has established himself as a playoff performer, and we all saw why. Bobrovsky made huge saves in big moments that gave the Panthers’ talented roster a chance to win the game. The Oilers get that sometimes, but not enough.
The second, arguably bigger, obstacle was the Oilers’ complete lack of discipline at times. How many times did Edmonton lose momentum by giving a lethal Panthers power play yet another chance for an avoidable penalty? It’s the Stanley Cup Final — emotions run high and everyone is playing hard, but there has to be a sense of discipline and control. The Panthers displayed that, and the Oilers didn’t.
After it almost cost them the series against Dallas, I thought the Oilers might make some adjustments. Instead, they came out like Oprah handing out high sticks to Florida.
Why McDavid Can Still Win In Edmonton
The Oilers are still really good. They’re opening as the betting favorite with many odds makers for the 2026 Stanley Cup. Besides, any team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can win the Cup. The Oilers are also in a division that’s not the toughest one to navigate in the current playoff format. All of those things are in the Oilers’ favor.
McDavid’s deal is up after the 2025-26 season. I find it hard to believe that he’ll leave Edmonton. With the salary cap going up a lot in this offseason, the Oilers should have some room to add talent or maybe upgrade in goal. The problem, of course, is that other teams will have more money to spend, too.
Much of the Oilers’ future depends on what McDavid wants out of his next deal. Will he take the Mitch Marner route and squeeze every dollar he can out of Edmonton? Or, will he follow Nathan MacKinnon’s example? MacKinnon got paid, but took a little bit less to ensure the Avalanche could add talent. If the Oilers front-load the contract with actual cash, McDavid might be willing to take that kind of deal.
Teams will be willing to break the bank for a chance at a 30-year-old Connor McDavid. But most of those options would place him on flawed teams. For example, just for fun, I took McDavid and put him on the Ducks in NHL 25. They’ll have a ton of money to spend in the next two years. Adding the best player in the world made Anaheim a 92-point team. In Utah, the Mammoth got 93 points with McDavid on the roster. Chicago might have some allure because of Connor Bedard, but the Hawks don’t even make the playoffs with Connor McDavid on the team in NHL 25.
Winning is incredibly important to McDavid. I see him staying and being paid incredibly well, but allowing Edmonton some flexibility.
If that happens, the Oilers can continue to be aggressive in free agency. Solidifying their blue line and goaltending could put them right over the hump.
