There’s been a number of gloom in Oil Nation the previous few days, after the Edmonton Oilers misplaced the Stanley Cup Last to the Florida Panthers for a second consecutive yr.
Oilers followers had been left broken-hearted on Tuesday (June 17) when Florida defeated Edmonton by a rating of 5-1 at Amerant Financial institution Area in Dawn to win the NHL’s best-of-seven championship collection in six video games.
Associated: 4 Takeaways From Oilers’ 5-1 Loss in Sport 6 of Stanley Cup Last
Ever because the Oilers misplaced to Florida in seven video games final yr, there was a single-minded focus in Edmonton of returning to the Stanley Cup Last and bringing the trophy again to Alberta for the primary time since 1990.
Whereas there had been fairly excessive hopes of a championship triumph in 2024, this time there was a real perception that the Oilers had been going to seize the Stanley Cup. In comparison with 12 months earlier, the Oilers had been deeper, extra skilled, and easily higher. At the very least, that’s what everybody thought.
However the Panthers proved such considering to be very, very fallacious, with a fully dominating efficiency. Florida led for 255:49 of the collection, setting an all-time championship collection file. Thus, Edmonton’s Stanley Cup drought continues, now at 35 years and counting.
‘Cup or Bust’ Perspective
There’s a notion in Oil Nation that something in need of profitable the championship is a failure. In spite of everything, the Oilers are blessed with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, a tandem that ranks alongside the best centre duos in hockey historical past, from Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Edmonton has been ready three and a half many years to as soon as once more rejoice with the trophy that took up a semi-permanent residence within the metropolis from 1984 to 1990. Persistence is carrying skinny.
However for some followers to be so locked into an all-or-nothing “Cup or bust” angle that they fail to benefit from the wonderful experience that the Oilers have taken Edmonton on is a horrible disgrace.
Oilers’ Uncommon Run of Success
These final 4 years have been a really particular time in Oil Nation. Throughout that span, the Oilers have gained at the very least one collection each postseason, superior to the Western Convention Last 3 times, and now made consecutive journeys to the Stanley Cup Last. To understand how uncommon such a run of success is, take into account the next:
Of the NHL’s present 32 franchises, almost half (15) have by no means had a streak of 4 straight years profitable at the very least one playoff spherical.
Within the wage cap period (since 2005-06), solely eight groups have gained at the very least one playoff spherical in 4 consecutive years.
Because the NHL formally started holding convention championships in 1982, simply 11 groups have had a span of reaching the convention finals 3 times in 4 years.
Within the wage cap period, solely seven groups have reached the convention last at the very least 3 times in a span of 4 years.
Fewer than half of the NHL’s present 32 franchises (15) have reached the Stanley Cup Last in back-to-back years.
Because the NHL expanded to a 16-team playoff in 1980, solely eight groups have reached its championship collection in consecutive postseasons. Simply 4, together with Edmonton and Florida, have completed so within the wage cap period.
Oilers: Straightforward to Get Spoiled
It’s very simple to get spoiled by success. Generally it takes a harsh reminder of what life is like on the opposite facet to actually respect it.
Nobody is aware of this higher than Edmonton hockey followers of a sure age, who’ve been there because the staff joined the NHL in 1979. They knew virtually nothing however profitable all through the glory days of the 80s and early 90s, when the Oilers captured 5 Stanley Cups in a span of seven years and reached the convention last eight instances in 10 years. At one level, issues had been so good that Edmonton dubbed itself “The Metropolis of Champions”, full with a welcome signal.
Those self same followers then suffered vastly over the almost three many years that adopted, from the late 90s and early 2000s when the Oilers couldn’t afford to maintain their stars, by the last decade of darkness when the staff did not make the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons.
In these days, the degrees that immediately’s Oilers have reached can be near-impossible to fathom. Earlier than the NHL instituted a wage cap, merely making the playoffs and getting a few house postseason video games was a large deal. In 2000, Edmonton followers weren’t dreaming about hockey in June; they had been overjoyed with hockey in Might.
The Oilers have gained six playoff collection within the final 14 months. That’s equal to as many postseason collection as they gained from 1993 to 2021.
Believing within the Future
Edmonton’s gamers in addition to its head coach Kris Knoblauch and common supervisor Stan Bowman held their season-ending media availabilities on Thursday (June 19) and Friday (June 20), respectively. Naturally, everybody expresses a perception that the Oilers can win the championship. That’s additionally the mantra that followers have embraced as they’ve begun choosing themselves again up within the wake of Tuesday’s defeat.
“Hopefully we will proceed what we have completed & construct off of it as a result of I do not assume there’d be something higher than to win all of it in a spot like this.”
Learn the total transcript from immediately with #Oilers GM Stan Bowman & Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. https://t.co/nQhOvRhqkl
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 20, 2025
Perception is a ravishing factor. It’s what each participant, coach, government and fan ought to have, whether or not they’re the two-time defending champions just like the Panthers or they’ve completed with the fewest factors within the NHL every of the final two seasons just like the San Jose Sharks.
The reality is that it could possibly be a really very long time earlier than the Oilers get anyplace close to this near a championship. Based mostly on the present variety of groups within the NHL, the common staff will win a postseason collection as soon as each 4 years, advance to the convention last as soon as each eight years, and hoist the Stanley Cup as soon as each 32 years.
After all, it’s disappointing that McDavid and his Oilers haven’t but reached the final word vacation spot, however it’s been an superior experience. If Oil Nation is fortunate, that experience is much from over, and Edmonton would be the Metropolis of Champions as soon as once more. And if not, the run has been no much less unimaginable.
