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Connor McDavid: 'Sucks' to Lose NHL Stanley Cup; 'I Guess' Conn Smythe Is 'an Honor'

Jun 25, 2024
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on during the first period of Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on during the first period of Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Connor McDavid wasn't in a celebratory mood on Monday night when he became the sixth player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy following the Edmonton Oilers' 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Speaking to reporters after the game, McDavid explained it "sucks" to lose the Stanley Cup before trying to contextualize his individual honor.

"Yeah, obviously, I guess it's an honor. With the names on that trophy. But ... yeah," he said.

The Oilers forced a Game 7 against the Panthers by winning three straight games after falling into an 0-3 hole in the series. They outscored Florida 18-5 in Games 4-6.

McDavid set a Stanley Cup Final record with eight combined points during a two-game span in Games 4 and 5.

The Panthers, despite losing Game 6, did a much better job of shutting down McDavid over the final two games in the series. He didn't score a point in either game. It was his first time without a point in back-to-back games since a three-game stretch in the regular season from Nov. 6-11.

McDavid's 42 points were the fourth-most in a single postseason in NHL history. The only players who scored more were Wayne Gretzky twice in 1984-85 (47) and 1987-88 (43) and Mario Lemieux in 1990-91 (44).

The last player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy on a team that didn't win the Stanley Cup was goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2002-03 when he led the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to the Final before losing in seven games to the New Jersey Devils.

McDavid is the first non-goalie to win the award on the losing team since Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975-76.

Conn Smythe Trophy 2024: Oilers' Connor McDavid Wins over Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky

Jun 25, 2024
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up prior to game Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up prior to game Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

For the first time since 2003, the Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded to a member of the losing team.

After the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup on Monday, Oilers star Conor McDavid was given the award for an outstanding performance in the playoffs.

McDavid finished the postseason with 42 points—eight goals and 34 assists—across 25 games played.

In front of a Panthers crowd, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was met with a rain of boos from fans after he announced McDavid had won the coveted award. The three-time Hart Trophy winner did not come out to the ice to accept the award.

It was a bit surprising for McDavid to win the trophy given the rarity of a member of the losing team winning it. The last winner from a losing team was Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2003.

While Florida fans were disappointed to see McDavid win the award over Sergei Bobrovsky or another member of the Panthers, it's hard to deny that McDavid was the most impressive player throughout the playoffs.

His 42 points in the postseason were the fourth-most in NHL history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (43, 47) and Mario Lemieux (44).

After McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe, there were mixed reactions from fans on social media.

https://twitter.com/alex_kirshner/status/1805437436606267870

Being awarded the Conn Smythe is a nice boost to McDavid's resume, but the star likely would have rather walked away with the Stanley Cup Trophy. The Oilers put together an impressive stretch of games to come back from a 3-0 deficit, but they didn't have enough to complete the historic comeback.

McDavid has now experienced his first Stanley Cup Finals and even was named the best player of the postseason, but he'll be looking to come back next season and win it all.

Wayne Gretzky's Stick from 1988 Stanley Cup Win Sells for NHL Record $336K at Auction

Jun 22, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 15: Wayne Gretzky speaks onstage during Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2024 on May 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 15: Wayne Gretzky speaks onstage during Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2024 on May 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery)

NHL legend Wayne Gretzky's stick that he used during the Edmonton Oilers' series-clinching win in the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals sold for a record price on Friday.

The stick sold at a Sotheby's auction for $336,000, setting an all-time record for a game-used NHL hockey stick (h/t ESPN's Dan Hajducky).

The stick was previously owned by Rick Elaschuk, a longtime employee of the Oilers. Gretzky also signed the stick after securing the first of four total Stanley Cup wins throughout his career.

Per Hajducky, 22 bidders were responsible for 79 total bids on the stick before it was eventually sold. The price of $336,000 surpasses a previous record that also belonged to Gretzky, as the stick he used in his final game sold for $138,600 in 2022.

The 15-time All-Star's memorabilia also holds the record for the largest amount paid for a hockey jersey, as his final Oilers jersey sold for $1.452 million in June 2022 (h/t Hajducky).

Gretzky dominated throughout the 1988 Stanley Cup Playoffs, amassing 43 points in 19 games. He also recorded 31 assists throughout the postseason run, which stood for several decades as an all-time NHL record before it was broken by Connor McDavid in 2024.

McDavid and the Oilers will attempt to secure the sixth Stanley Cup win in franchise history by trying to complete an improbable 3-0 comeback against the Florida Panthers. Trailing the series 3-2, Edmonton will try to force Game 7 on Friday night.

McDavid, Oilers Wow NHL Fans with G4 Win vs. Tkachuk, Panthers to Avoid Finals Sweep

Jun 16, 2024
EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 15: Mattias Janmark #13 and Adam Henrique #19 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate after Henrique's goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of Game Four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 15, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 15: Mattias Janmark #13 and Adam Henrique #19 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate after Henrique's goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of Game Four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 15, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Edmonton Oilers solved Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky just in time to save their season.

The Oilers chased Bobrovsky in the second period on their way to a 8-1 victory in Game 4 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals.

The final will now go back to Florida for Game 5. The Panthers still lead the series, 3-1.

The Oilers' dominant effort was led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who had been largely held off the scoresheet through three prior games.

Draisaitl assisted on two goals, while McDavid scored and added three assists.

McDavid now has 32 assists in 22 playoff games this summer, beating out Wayne Gretzky's effort in 1988 for the most helpers in a single NHL postseason.

Fans were also impressed with the team's overall performance as Mattias Janmark, Zach Hyman and Dylan Holloway each joined the Oilers' stars with multipoint nights.

https://twitter.com/coldplay_oilers/status/1802144900638793894

The Oilers were forced to kill off a penalty early in the first period, but Janmark kept the home crowd in the game with a shorthanded goal to open scoring.

Halfway through the first period, Vladimir Tarasenko scored to cut the Edmonton lead in half and threaten a Panthers comeback.

The Oilers responded with five straight goals, including a second-period strike from Darnell Nurse that led the Panthers to pull Bobrovsky in favor of Anthony Stolarz.

Edmonton's ability to finally solve Bobrovsky, against whom they had previously been held to just four goals in three games, led some fans to believe the Oilers could pull off a historic reverse sweep:

The definitive win after three games of deflating losses also led fans to compare the Stanley Cup Finals to the ongoing 2024 NBA Finals.

The Dallas Mavericks forced a fifth game against the Boston Celtics Friday with a similarly convincing victory in a must-win Game 4.

McDavid will look to drive his team to another victory as the Oilers hit the road for another must-win game this week.

The Panthers will meanwhile have the chance to win the Stanley Cup at home when the series returns to Sunrise on Tuesday.

Connor McDavid Breaks Wayne Gretzky's NHL Record for Assists in Single Playoff Run

Jun 16, 2024
EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 15: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game Four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 15, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 15: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game Four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 15, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Connor McDavid passed some really elite company on Saturday night.

The Edmonton Oilers captain broke the record set by Wayne Gretzky for most assists in a single postseason during the Oilers Game 4 matchup against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

The record was broken on his third assist of the night, which came on a Dylan Holloway goal in the third period of the Oilers 8-1 victory over the Panthers. This broke Gretzky's mark from 1987, when he had 31 for the Oilers.

The third assist was McDavid's 32nd of the postseason, and his four points on the night gave him 38 points during the playoffs. That leads the entire league and he is just nine points behind Gretzky's all-time record of 48 from the 1984-85 season.

For Edmonton to win the Stanley Cup, McDavid may need to break that record. While Game 4's victory was significant, it was the team's first victory in the series. Edmonton now trails Florida 3-1 in the series, and need to perform to a similar caliber for the remainder of the series.

Only one team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup final round. That came in 1942 postseason, when the Toronto Maple Leafs completed a reverse sweep on the Detroit Red Wings.

The last time a team overcame a 3-0 deficit in general was in the 2014 first round when the Los Angeles Kings knocked down the San Jose Sharks

Oilers' Mattias Ekholm Says Team Can Make Historic Stanley Cup Rally vs. Panthers

Jun 14, 2024
SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 10: Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) scores on a breakaway opportunity in the first period during game two of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 10, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 10: Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) scores on a breakaway opportunity in the first period during game two of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 10, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm believes that the Oilers can become the first NHL team in 82 years to recover from a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final.

"I feel like through three games, have we deserved to win a game? I think so. I think we've played two at least pretty good games," Ekholm said Friday, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "It hasn't happened for us, but it is four games.

"We had stretches of eight games and 16 games throughout the regular season. We won three straight against Dallas. So we can do it. It's a matter of just finding that first win and go from there."

The Oilers launched a late comeback attempt Thursday but couldn't find the tying goal in Game 3, conceding a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers at home.

Edmonton is now 0-5 against Florida this season, including two regular-season regulation losses.

The only team to ever recover from an 0-3 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, a team led by Syl Apps to a historic rally against the Detroit Red Wings.

A reverse sweep has only ever been completed three other times in the history of the NHL playoffs. The most recent recovery was in 2014, when Jonathan Quick backstopped the Los Angeles Kings to a first-round comeback against the San Jose Sharks. The Kings went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Oilers outshot the Panthers in Games 1 and 3, and have overall put up 86 shots to the Panthers' 70 through three games. Ekholm himself scored the opening goal of Game 2 to give Edmonton its first lead of the series.

But defensive snafus and struggles from Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner meant the Oilers couldn't hold onto that early advantage.

Edmonton has overall been held to just four goals through three games, with stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have yet to score against Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bobrovsky's .953 save percentage ranks as the sixth-highest recorded through the first three games of a Stanley Cup Final in NHL history, per TSN's SportsCentre.

The Oilers' hopes of a comeback will center on McDavid figuring out how to beat Bobrovsky, while Draisaitl looks to snap his first three-game stretch without a point since March 2020.

Ekholm isn't the only Edmonton player who has professed his belief the series could go to seven games. Wyshynski reported that Skinner, as well as forwards Corey Perry and Zach Hyman, all said they believed the Oilers could launch a historic comeback when the puck drops in Edmonton for Game 4 Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

NHL Rumors: Ducks, Kings to Use Modernized Retro Logos on Uniforms Next Season

Jun 6, 2024
MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 27: View of a Anaheim Ducks logo on a jersey during the Anaheim Ducks versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 27, 2022, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 27: View of a Anaheim Ducks logo on a jersey during the Anaheim Ducks versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 27, 2022, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks will debut "modernized" versions of retro logos on new uniforms next season, according to hockey branding site Icethetics.

The Ducks will feature a new version of the Mighty Ducks logo, while the Kings will wear a black-and-silver logo reminiscent of the Wayne Gretzky era "with a new crown design inside," Icethetics reported.

The Kings responded encouragingly to the post:

Icethetics reported that both uniforms should be revealed by the time the 2024 NHL Draft begins June 28.

The Ducks wore versions of the Mighty Ducks logo from when they were founded by The Walt Disney Company in 1993 until 2006.

SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 20: Todd Fedoruk #29 of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks skates during a game against the San Jose Sharks on December 20, 2005 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game 4-2. (Photo by Don Smith/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 20: Todd Fedoruk #29 of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks skates during a game against the San Jose Sharks on December 20, 2005 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game 4-2. (Photo by Don Smith/Getty Images)

The team changed its name and logo for the 2006-07 season and promptly won the Stanley Cup.

The franchise has since stayed away from the Mighty Ducks branding as the team's main logo, although the Ducks have used the design on alternate and Reverse Retro jerseys.

The Kings marked the arrival of Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers by changing their colors to black and silver, with a primary logo emphasizing the word "Kings" in a crest, prior to the 1988-89 season.

SAN JOSE, CA - CIRCA 1993: Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings in action against the San Jose Sharks at the San Jose Arena during the 1993 - 1994 season in San Jose, California.Gretzky played for the Kings from 1988-96. (Photo by Rocky Widner/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - CIRCA 1993: Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings in action against the San Jose Sharks at the San Jose Arena during the 1993 - 1994 season in San Jose, California.Gretzky played for the Kings from 1988-96. (Photo by Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

Los Angeles continued wearing silver and black through Gretzky's seven and a half seasons with the team before adjusting the logo and color scheme again in 1998. (Uniform history details h/t NHLuniforms.com.)

The Kings now reportedly plan to combine the Gretzky era black-and-white crest with the bejeweled crown logo worn by players during the team's inaugural 1967-68 season:

The Kings wore versions of this crown from their inaugural season, all the way through the 1978-88 campaign:

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 21: Steve Duchesne #28 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on November 21, 1987 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Toronto tied Los Angeles 6-6. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 21: Steve Duchesne #28 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on November 21, 1987 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Toronto tied Los Angeles 6-6. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)

A jersey change this summer would mark the first main-logo rebrand for the Kings since 2021, and the first for the Ducks since 2014.

These Southern Californian clubs won't be the only team getting a jersey rebrand before the 2024-25 season.

The club formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes will mark its first season relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a sweater that says "UTAH" across the front, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Pagnotta expects this jersey to debut at the NHL draft.

Connor McDavid, Oilers Beat Stars to Reach 2024 Stanley Cup Final; NHL Fans Thrilled

Jun 3, 2024
EDMONTON, AB - JUNE 2: The Edmonton Oilers win the Western Conference and pose for a photo with the Campbell Conference Bowl at the end of game six of the Western Conference Final Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Dallas Stars on June 2, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - JUNE 2: The Edmonton Oilers win the Western Conference and pose for a photo with the Campbell Conference Bowl at the end of game six of the Western Conference Final Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Dallas Stars on June 2, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

With a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in his career on the line, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid refused to be denied.

McDavid set the tone early, scoring a nifty goal less than five minutes into Sunday's Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars and assisted Zach Hyman's goal later in the opening period to lead the Oilers to a 2-1 victory.

It's Edmonton's first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since the 2005-06 season and eighth in franchise history. The team will meet the Florida Panthers, who won the Eastern Conference for the third straight year by defeating the New York Rangers in six games. Florida is seeking its first Stanley Cup title in franchise history, while Edmonton is chasing its sixth overall and first since the 1989-90 campaign.

McDavid's early attack proved to pay dividends as the Oilers staved off a furious attack from the Stars, who were looking to extend their season by forcing a Game 7. Dallas out-shot Edmonton 35-10 in Sunday's contest. The 10 shots on goal by Edmonton were the fewest in a series-clinching effort in conference finals history. Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner was a brick wall in the net, finishing with 34 saves and one goal allowed in the third period.

Fans on social media were blown away by the effort from McDavid and the Oilers as they finally broke through to win a conference title:

McDavid already has a legendary career that includes five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards and three Hart Memorial Trophies. The only thing missing is a Stanley Cup title, and he put himself in a position to earn his first championship with a stellar performance on Sunday.

McDavid and the Oilers will meet the Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday.

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