Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid is trying not too hard to think about his legacy. The Oilers' sensational player is trying to keep his mind just focused on the task in front of him–to win a Stanley Cup.
“It's like what I said this last series about Dallas, I'll say it again about Florida: They're a great team and they require your full attention,” McDavid said, per ESPN. “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.”
Edmonton's task ahead of them
The Oilers are in the Stanley Cup Final, with the help and support of McDavid. The center is considered by many to be the best player in the NHL who has not yet won a championship. McDavid has been brilliant in this postseason. He has 31 points in 18 games. The Oilers have made it through the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks and L.A. Kings to reach this final round.
“There's certain things in certain moments where there's only one player in the world that can make that happen. And I think we can all agree on that,” Oiler Leon Draisaitl said of his teammate McDavid, per ESPN.
McDavid cruised through the regular season, as one of the best offensive players in hockey. On the campaign, McDavid posted 132 points. He helped lead the team on an impressive 16-game winning streak in the middle of the year, heading into the All-Star Break. McDavid and the Oilers did that following the changing of their coach mid-season, which made their winning streak even more impressive.
McDavid's memories
The Oilers must now find a way to win four more games. The team is on the doorstep of winning the Stanley Cup for the first time sine 1990. It would also be McDavid's first championship. The center and his club must go through the Florida Panthers to do it. Ironically, Florida is the place where McDavid heard his name selected back in the 2015 NHL Draft. He was chosen as the first overall pick in that draft.
“It's kind of funny how it's worked out,” McDavid added. “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.”
McDavid says he has long been a fan of watching championship series games in hockey. He recalls how memorable they were for him, watching as a young fan. Now, he will get to be a part of that experience.
“I just remember how exciting it was. I think any time you would see the Stanley Cup on TV, it was always a special thing,” McDavid added. “Obviously as I've been in the league, I think I watched less. I mean, I'd still watch here and there, but when you're as competitive as everyone is, it's not always easy to see the Cup passed around.”
The Oilers and Panthers take to the ice Saturday for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. The puck is scheduled to drop at 8:00 Eastern.
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