(Sunrise) There were dozens of journalists and cameramen waiting for Connor McDavid after the match. It was ultimately Zach Hyman who was the first Edmonton Oilers player to show up.
Poor Hyman, a very interesting speaker by the way, had just finished his first answer when McDavid arrived at the other interview area. From then on, the microphones migrated to 97, who arrived with a very downcast expression.
“It sucks. This sucks,” McDavid muttered.
McDavid had just accomplished a “feat” that no player really wants to accomplish: winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as a member of the losing team in the final. He is the first since Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks in 2003, the first non-goalie since Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1976.
McDavid was walking on eggshells. A few minutes earlier, he was announced as the winner of the Conn-Smythe, but did not appear on the ice to receive the trophy. There’s a fine line between acting like a winner and disrespecting one of the National League’s most prestigious trophies.
He was silent for a long time before answering the question about Conn-Smythe. His voice even seemed to break. “It’s an honor to have my name on this trophy. But…” He shrugged, not finishing his answer.
The fact remains that with 42 points (8 goals, 34 assists), he signed the 4th harvest in NHL history in the playoffs. That’s 10 points more than 2nd place holder Evan Bouchard. He was hard to ignore.
The Oilers nevertheless find themselves with their mouths to water. This defeat means that the drought of Canadian teams without a Stanley Cup now stretches to 31 years. Since the Canadian’s triumph in 1993, the Oilers were the seventh team to reach the final.
Still, this team overcame a lot of adversity to get to a Stanley Cup victory. Albertans were at rock bottom early in the season, going 2-9-1 after 12 games, which included a loss to the miserable San Jose Sharks. A coaching change later, they played up to their potential.
Rebelote in the final, where they found themselves behind 0-3, before forcing a seventh game.
“I’m very proud of the group, proud of the way we fought,” said the captain. We were in trouble from the start and we went up the coast for months. It’s rubbish. »