The Florida Panthers announced their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, with forward Matthew Tkachuk expressing confidence that Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will eventually win the trophy.
"When you have a player that good and that talented, he’s going to win (the Stanley Cup) one day," Tkachuk said, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston. "Wherever it is."
McDavid’s Oilers have now fallen to Tkachuk’s Panthers in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
The 28-year-old Edmonton captain won the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP last spring. He became just the second skater to take home the hardware as a member of the losing side. McDavid recorded three goals and 11 points in seven games versus Florida last spring, but he was quieter this time around, posting one goal and six assists as the Oilers fell in six contests.
McDavid made it clear he still has "a lot of confidence and belief" in his club despite another heartbreaking loss.
He added that "nobody quit" during Edmonton’s season-ending, 5-1 loss in Game 6.
McDavid has won five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, three Hart Memorial Trophies, and one Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy during his 10-year NHL career.
The superstar leads the league with 721 assists and 1,082 points in 712 regular-season games since his debut campaign in 2015-16. Edmonton has made the playoffs seven times with McDavid, winning 10 series over that stretch.
He already ranks fourth in the franchise’s record books in postseason assists (106) and fifth in points (150) in 96 games played.
McDavid is eligible to sign a new extension with the Oilers on July 1. His former agent, Jeff Jackson, was hired as Edmonton’s CEO of hockey operations in August 2023.
Tkachuk Reflects on Panthers Success
Tkachuk expressed gratitude for the trade that sent him from the Calgary Flames to Florida almost three years ago.
"I can’t believe that this is what’s happened in the last few years," Tkachuk told TNT’s Darren Pang. "Coming to Florida was one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me."
“To do this back-to-back times, go to three straight Finals, win two of them, I mean, we’re a dynasty. … Hopefully we can do it again.”
Tkachuk is under contract for five more seasons with a cap hit of $9.5 million. He can become an unrestricted free agent in 2030 at age 32.
It was a difficult postseason for Tkachuk, who revealed that he tore his adductor off the bone and dealt with a hernia after getting injured at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Panthers forward played through the injuries during the team’s championship run.
