Truth be told, it’s extremely possible that Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid could go down in history as the best player to have never won a Stanley Cup.
This future Hall of Famer, drafted in 2015 1st overall by the Oilers, came agonizingly close in 2024 and 2025 to lifting Lord Stanley, when Edmonton made it in consecutive years to the Stanley Cup Finals only to lose both times against the Florida Panthers.
Only Thing Missing From McDavid’s Resume Is His First Stanley Cup
Once again, expectations were sky high this year for the Oilers, who drastically fell short this spring when, in the Western Conference best-of-7 opening-round series they lost in six games against the Anaheim Ducks which of course left a bitter taste in McDavid’s mouth.
“We’ve been searching for consistency all year and we didn’t find it here in the playoffs,” McDavid said. “It’s tough. We were an average team all year. An average team with high expectations, you’re going to be disappointed.”
A closer look at the Oilers roster shows that their star players such as forwards McDavid (29 years-old), Leon Draisaitl (30 years-old), Zach Hyman (34 years-old), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (33 years-old), and offensive minded defenseman Evan Bouchard (26 years-old) are all in their primes meaning the opportunity is right now for them to win the Stanley Cup.
While McDavid still has a lot of hockey in front of him, the Oilers recently suffered a crippling blow to their future Stanley Cup chances when it was made public that veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse asked for a trade.
In expressing his desire for a trade, Nurse gave Oilers management a list of three to five teams including the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings where he would agree to be traded to.
Nurse, who in 2013 was drafted by the Oilers 7th overall, provides toughness and won’t hesitate to drop the gloves. He also is a great shot blocker. This top two defenseman, who averages over 20 minutes per game, also provides some offence and is the type of defenseman a team needs to win the Stanley Cup.
No matter who the Oilers get as a replacement, the blueline won’t be as good without the assets that Nurse can supply.
With a defense core minus a heart and soul player such as Nurse and average at best goaltending from the Oilers, it’s all of the sudden looking more realistic that while McDavid continues to win his fair share of individual awards, a Stanley Cup just might be something that never comes his way.
McDavid Equals Wayne Gretzky’s Record of Five Ted Lindsay Awards
Recently, McDavid wrote another chapter in his Hall of Fame career when he won the Ted Lindsay Award for the fifth time in his career which officially tied him for the most with the NHL’s all-time leading point producer, Wayne Gretzky.
“The award, coming from the guys that you play against every single night and battle against every single night, to have them recognize me with an award like this, means so much.”
Besides the Ted Lindsay Award, McDavid also, for the sixth time in his stories career, took home the Art Ross Trophy for finishing on top in league scoring with 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists) scored during the 2025-26 season. McDavid ended up finishing eight points ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.Â
Kucherov wouldn’t go home empty-handed, as he finished 10 points ahead of McDavid in winning the Hart Memorial Trophy for league’s MVP in what was the closest vote in NHL history.
Important Off-Season Coming Up For OilersÂ
The Oilers have two more years to try and make themselves once again a prominent Stanley Cup contender before McDavid becomes a free agent.
Heading into summer, the Oilers, who in mid-May fired head coach Kris Knoblauch, can’t afford to make any mistakes in hiring the right coach who can take them to the promised land.
Rumors have been swirling about former bench boss Mike Babcock becoming the Oilers new coach.
Hockey fans know that while Babcock can deliver from behind the bench, it’s his questionable methods to motivate his players which has resulted in a terrible reputation for the coach.
Despite many former players expressing their dislike for Babcock and his unorthodox methods with players which has gotten him in some trouble, the question is, will the Oilers take a chance on Babcock?
Besides questions about coaching, Oilers fans have to be wondering if the team this summer will go out and trade or sign a proven number 1 goalie who could take them far in the playoffs.
Now there is another concern for the Oilers and that’s how they will replace a defenseman like Nurse who brings that toughness, shot blocking, physicality and ability to log 20-25 minutes of ice time. Naturally, every Stanley Cup winner has a stud defenseman who provides all those elements and it’s going to be hard to find.
With McDavid more than halfway through his career, it is becoming more and more of a possibility that he can finish his career without a Stanley Cup.
Main Image: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
