Connor McDavid recalls watching Stanley Cup Final as a young fan ahead of Game 1

Modified Jun 08, 2024 05:51 GMT

Connor McDavid is considered the best hockey player in the world right now, but he has yet to win the Stanley Cup. Ahead of Game 1 of the Final against the Florida Panthers, McDavid downplayed how a championship would validate his NHL career achievements. However, with the Cup present on media day, he recalled watching the final as an eager young fan.

"I just remember how exciting it was," McDavid said of seeing the Cup on TV. "Any time you would see the Stanley Cup on TV, it was always a special thing."

Now that he's in the league himself, McDavid admitted he doesn't like to watch the cup being passed around anymore:

"When you're as competitive as everyone is, it's not always easy to see the Cup passed around." McDavid said on Friday press conference.

McDavid wasn't born yet when his team, the Edmonton Oilers, last won the Cup in 1990 after Wayne Gretzky had left.

"As somebody that was not alive for that period of time, you feel like it was always just easy for them, but they went through a lot of adversity and a lot of heartbreak to get to where they got to as a team," McDavid reflected.

"That certainly resonates with our group. We've gone through a lot to get to this point."

Though the journey was difficult at times, McDavid said the Oilers never lost belief:

"Even when things weren't going well, I think we always believed that if we just stuck with it, things were going to turn around. I think we showed that we can go through adversity together and come out the other side."

Now in the Final, McDavid leads the playoffs with 31 points, though just 5 goals. His 26 assists put him in range of Wayne Gretzky's single-postseason record of 31 from 1988.

Connor McDavid on facing the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers take on the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Nine years ago, McDavid stepped onto the Panthers arena to accept the Oilers jersey following his first overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Now he returns to that same building with a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup.

"It's kind of funny how it's worked out," Connor McDavid said. "Honestly, it feels like it was yesterday that that night was happening, and here we are nine years later, it feels like it's going back around."

On facing the Panthers, Connor McDavid said:

"They're a great team and they require your full attention. You've got to stay in the moment. You can only take what's in front of you. And for us, that's getting ready to go for tomorrow. Showing up and playing all of Game 1."

McDavid will look to lead the Oilers to victory in Game 1.