Latest news with #McDavid
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Connor McDavid Answers 'Pretty Heavy Question' on Stanley Cup Pressure
Connor McDavid Answers 'Pretty Heavy Question' on Stanley Cup Pressure originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The stakes are sky-high for the Edmonton Oilers heading into Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Advertisement Down 3–2 to the defending champion Florida Panthers, they're facing elimination on the road for the second year in a row. Connor McDavid, now in his 10th NHL season and widely considered the best player in the world, once again finds himself one win away from forcing a Game 7 as well as one loss away from another crushing end to a season without the Stanley Cup getting back to Edmonton, and neither being added to his personal trophy cabinet once and for all. McDavid has already collected three Hart Trophies and five Art Ross titles among a plethora of other accolades and feats. The Oilers' superstar was asked Monday whether the weight of his stature in the NHL fuels pressure to deliver a championship. Advertisement 'That's a pretty heavy question,' McDavid said. 'If you think about it that way, you'd probably be pretty crippled in terms of how you prepare and how you play.' McDavid said the moment is bigger for the team than for him or his individual legacy. "It's not really about me," McDavid said. "It's about us trying to get a win here tomorrow night. That's what we're looking forward to." "I think everybody has another level, myself included.' Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) against the Florida Belski-Imagn Images McDavid enters Game 6 tied with teammate Leon Draisaitl in postseason points, each having 33 in 21 playoff games. The Oilers captain, however, only has one goal in the finals and has lacked his usual punch. Advertisement 'We've put ourselves in another difficult spot and it's our job to work our way out of it,' McDavid said. 'I'm excited. I'm excited about the opportunity.' Game 6 will take place in Sunrise on Tuesday night, with puck drop set at 8 p.m. ET and the Panthers having their first of two chances at winning back-to-back championships. Related: NHL Makes Historic Connor McDavid Announcement Amid Stanley Cup Final Related: Oilers Player Makes Bold Stanley Cup Final Guarantee Before Game 6 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Connor McDavid rumors explode as Leon Draisaitl speaks on uncertain Edmonton Oilers future
After back-to-back Stanley Cup Final losses, questions are rising about Connor McDavid's future with the Edmonton Oilers. Fans are wondering if the team's biggest star will stay or move on. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Though McDavid hasn't said anything about leaving, the rumors are louder than ever. Now, after the team's second straight defeat to the Florida Panthers, teammate Leon Draisaitl has shared his honest thoughts and his answer might surprise you. Leon Draisaitl says he has not discussed Connor McDavid's future yet Leon Draisaitl spoke to the media on Tuesday, June 18, 2025, just one day after the Edmonton Oilers lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers in Game 6. The loss happened at Rogers Place in Edmonton. During a postgame interview, Draisaitl was asked directly if he knew anything about Connor McDavid's plans. 'I'm going to be honest,' Draisaitl said. 'I haven't really talked to Connor about it. There comes a time when we talk about it, but there's nothing I can tell you right now that you want to hear or need to hear.' Draisaitl made it clear that while he doesn't know what McDavid will do, he respects his teammate's decision. He added, 'That's his situation, and he will do what's best for him and his family. Do I want him here forever? Yes, of course. I think everybody does.' Draisaitl himself recently signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Oilers through the 2032–2033 NHL season. But McDavid has only one year left on his current deal and could request a trade if he wants a fresh start elsewhere. Connor McDavid praises Florida Panthers after back-to-back losses Connor McDavid also spoke after the final loss on Monday, June 17, 2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Oilers had once again fallen to the Florida Panthers, who won the Cup for the second year in a row. Last year, Edmonton forced a Game 7. This year, it ended in Game 6. Also Read: 'They're a really good team,' McDavid said in the press conference. 'We kept saying we wanted to win a 2–1 game, and we never found a way to do that. They're deep. How many guys had 20-plus points in the postseason? Six? That says everything.' McDavid also said, 'Nobody quit, nobody gave up, but they're back-to-back champs for a reason.' Brad Marchand, who joined the Panthers this season, played a big role and was even in talks for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'A king without a crown': Greg Cote destroys Connor McDavid's legacy for Wayne Gretzky comparisons after Stanley Cup failure
Greg Cote labels Connor McDavid as 'McOverrated' (Image via AP) Connor McDavid's hopes of solidifying his status among the all-time greats took another massive hit as the Edmonton Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. For the second straight year, the Oilers came up short, and once again, McDavid's performance underwhelmed when it mattered most. Greg Cote harshly dismisses Connor McDavid's G.O.A.T. case after second Stanley Cup Final loss After managing just one goal and five assists over the six-game series, many are beginning to wonder whether Connor McDavid can ever truly join the elite tier of players like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, or Sidney Crosby. While McDavid remains one of the most electrifying players in hockey, the lack of a championship continues to shadow his legacy. Longtime critic Greg Cote didn't hold back in his latest column, slamming McDavid for his performance. 'I have written and said for two years that McDavid should not be called 'McJesus' or the next Gretzky or given G.O.A.T. status because he remains a king without a crown,' Cote said. 'The Panthers again have verified my claim, and served to underline my admittedly harsh nickname for McDavid: McOverrated.' Cote also pointed to McDavid's ineffectiveness during the Final: 'He might be the best player in hockey, but he was not the best player in this series, or even on his team, or good enough to elevate his team to be the best, either. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz Superior Ginseng Undo In the six final games, he managed but one goal and five assists. McJesus was not walking on (ice) water. He was mostly invisible.' The Florida Panthers' Aleksander Barkov's dominant two-way play was a major factor in limiting McDavid's impact, as Edmonton's top line was largely neutralized. Despite back-to-back Final losses and speculation about a potential departure, NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes McDavid isn't going anywhere. 'I fully expect… that Connor McDavid will be signing that eight-year extension with the Oilers at some point this summer,' Seravalli said on Sportsnet. Also Read: Wayne Gretzky creates controversy, blames Oilers' Stanley Cup collapse on unforgivable goalie decision With the salary cap projected to rise to $104 million by 2026-27, Edmonton will have the resources to lock in their captain. Still, the pressure to deliver a championship—and silence critics like Cote—has never been higher. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Toronto Star
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Connor McDavid speaks, and opens the door for a future outside of Edmonton
You have to presume that Connor McDavid knows what it means to be Connor McDavid, so he knows at least two things. One, how important he is to the Oilers, to the city of Edmonton, to the province of Alberta, and to the sport; two, how goddamn great he is. His nickname is McJesus, and it fits; in Oilers terms, he is the true heir to hockey's god. That also means McDavid's every word must sometimes be treated like scripture, a sacred text. Thursday McDavid spoke, two days after losing a second straight Stanley Cup final to the Florida Panthers. Disappointment and a fear of the future swirled in the air. Like when McDavid was asked whether he feels he has unfinished business in Edmonton, for instance.
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Bruins Emerging as Potential Suitor to Steal Connor McDavid
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Edmonton Oilers and superstar Connor McDavid suffered heartbreak once again this season. Despite making a second straight run to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers came up short again. After losing to the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final in Game 7, Edmonton once again faced the Panthers this year. While the result wasn't exactly the same, the Oilers fell once again. This time, Edmonton lost the series 4-2. Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after scoring a short-handed goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 06, 2024 in Las Vegas,... Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after scoring a short-handed goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 06, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More Photo byMcDavid put together another masterful season for the Oilers. He left everything he had on the ice and the team had a magical run in the playoffs, but it just wasn't enough. Following another major letdown, all eyes are turning to next offseason. McDavid's contract is set to run out, and he will be able to explore free agency if he chooses to do so. There is also a chance that he could sign a long-term extension with Edmonton this offseason. He spoke out about a potential extension after the Game 6 loss in the Stanley Cup Final. "If I feel that there's a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem," he said. Should he choose to pass on signing an extension, many teams would love to pursue him in free agency next offseason. Bleacher Report analyst Adam Gretz has taken a look at some teams that could try to lure McDavid away from the Oilers. One of the teams that he mentioned as a possibility is none other than the Boston Bruins. "Even though they have rapidly arrived in the NHL's mushy middle of mediocrity, the Bruins do not seem prepared to start rebuilding or tearing things down. To be more than what they were this past season and more than what their roster figures to look like this upcoming season, they'll need a game-changing No. 1 center," Gretz wrote. "That has been their biggest need since Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired, and the likes of Casey Mittelstadt, Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm are not going to satisfy it. McDavid obviously would. The Bruins are in a big market and are an Original Six franchise that still has eyes on winning. That could potentially be appealing to McDavid." A move seeing McDavid take his talents to the Bruins would change the landscape of the NHL. It would also immediately make Boston a contender. While this is just a suggestion at this point in time, McDavid's future will be talked about a lot in the coming months.
