SUNRISE, Fla. – The Edmonton Oilers have once again found themselves at the bottom of the Stanley Cup Final, suffering a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers. This time, the reality is harsher, as the Oilers fell 5-1 in Game 6, marking their second consecutive loss in the championship series.
For Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and their teammates, the quest for a championship remains unfulfilled, as they became the first team since the Boston Bruins (1977 and 1978) to lose the Final in back-to-back years. This loss stings even more than last year’s heartbreaker, as the team showed a lack of competitiveness that was missing a year prior.
“We lost to a really good team,” McDavid reflected post-game. “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.”
Last year, the Oilers battled their way out of a 3-0 series deficit before ultimately falling short in a poignant Game 7. Their singular focus this season was to return to the Final and rectify that defeat. After a strong playoff run, cementing a 12-2 record in the prior rounds, the Oilers faced an early exit at the hands of the Panthers, leaving fans and players wondering what went wrong.
This series seemed promising initially; the Oilers won Game 1 and were able to tie the series at two games apiece. However, their performance deteriorated quickly. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm noted, “Last year, we were playing for it. This year we weren’t,” pointing to their inability to maintain momentum throughout the series.
The Oilers struggled considerably, managing to secure both their wins over the Panthers only after overtime and requiring multi-goal comebacks. Notably, they held a series lead for less than 34 minutes across all six games and failed to replicate the dominant victories they secured in last season’s playoffs.
In Game 6, the Oilers fell behind 2-0 in the first period, a trend that plagued their series as they were outscored 13-4 in first periods throughout. Goalie Stuart Skinner commented, “When you play them consistently and they’re always ahead, it’s a killer.”
The Panthers exploited the Oilers’ weaknesses, particularly in the forward ranks, where injuries to Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left significant gaps. The superior depth of the Panthers outmatched the Oilers’ bottom six. Defensively, Edmonton struggled against Florida’s relentless forecheck, in stark contrast to their previous playoff performances.
There’s a sports adage about teams with two starting goaltenders—that they effectively have none. The Oilers’ rotation between Skinner and Calvin Pickard underscored this concern, especially after both finished with save percentages under .900.
Skinner’s third goal allowed in Game 6, a careless mistake while handling a rebound, turned out to be costly. As the playoffs concluded, questions about the goaltending position loomed large, particularly as the free-agent market offered limited options.
Despite their challenges, the long-term prospects for stars like Draisaitl, who begins an eight-year contract worth $14 million AAV this fall, remain bright. McDavid has one remaining year on his deal and can begin negotiating an extension on July 1. Many believe he is likely to re-sign, especially with new hockey operations head Jeff Jackson taking over.
Although McDavid and Draisaitl form a formidable duo, the Oilers’ roster needs to add depth and speed in the forward ranks. Defenseman Evan Bouchard is due for a significant raise, and with approximately $12 million in cap space, the Oilers face tough decisions regarding their salary structure and team balance.
The team, which is the oldest in the NHL, could see changes as players with full no-move clauses may limit movement for cap relief. Coach Kris Knoblauch emphasized the importance of learning from this latest defeat, stating, “It’s going to be a long summer.”
As Draisaitl succinctly put it, “The takeaway is that we didn’t win. Nobody cares. We didn’t win. So, try again next year.” For the Oilers, the path to their first Stanley Cup since 1990 suddenly appears more challenging than ever.
Ekholm voiced hopes for the future, expressing faith that the team has the right pieces in place, despite the frustration of recent setbacks. “We just need to get over that hump,” he said. “It’s very frustrating right now. I hope we’ll be back in the near future.”