HERE’S THE MOMENT FOR CONNOR MCDAVID AS … EDMONTON BATTLES FLORIDA?
The Stanley Cup final is where the reserved McDavid can have an eruption, giving him acclaim as hockey’s greatest player while the Oilers try to break Canada's 31-year drought against the Panthers
In the 2,993 miles between Edmonton and South Florida, better known as the Arctic Circle and the Bahamas, it’s safe to assume multiple millions don’t care who wins. Do they even know what’s happening Saturday evening? The Stanley Cup final never has featured the NHL’s northernmost point and its southernmost — so, let’s assume, folks in Wyoming, Nebraska, Arkansas and Alabama would cause disturbances if asked.
Cricket? America won, in a shock, beating Pakistan at the World Cup. For 31 straight years, we’ve also whipped Canada in hockey. And they think we’re not high at the border.
The Oilers once toasted Wayne Gretzky in a town that likes green onion cakes. The Panthers play beside the Everglades and an outlet mall. You might think the outcome overwhelms Canadian concerns, in that no team has won the silver bowl since 1993, allowing the U.S. to celebrate in places where ice doesn’t freeze: Anaheim, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Las Vegas. But while a pizza chain shows advertisements of Canuck yuck — Toronto fans throwing bricks through TVs, a Vancouver fan punching drywall, a Montreal fan heaving a radio — there’s no real evidence that anyone north of the border is rooting hard, either, for Edmonton.
They don’t like the Bettman-ization of puckness, but each city is parochial enough only to cheer for its own boys. People who die with the Maple Leafs and fawn for the Canadiens aren’t nutty about the Oilers. Says the ad: “A Canadian team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup in 30 years. Maybe it’s time to try something different. This year, let’s team up with the fans we’ve always cheered against.” Up there, some fans are rooting for Florida, allowing their team a streak-cracking chance next season. Don’t cry too hard. Canada won two World Series with the Blue Jays and an NBA title with the Raptors.
If everyone must pinpoint a cause, his name would be Connor McDavid. He is the sport’s current god, but because he plays north of Red Deer, Alberta, our nation has heard of him but knows nothing about him. ESPN will introduce him to the audience though he already is in his ninth season. Anyone underwhelmed by Sidney Crosby’s personality would be bored by McDavid, always reserved and viewed in a Fanatics poll as ranking below the top five NHL stars — with teen Connor Bedard ranking No. 1 in Chicago, though his team is bad. They know McDavid in Canada. We’ll have to be amazed by his skating ability, his three MVP trophies, his five scoring titles and a playoff points per game (1.58) ranking behind only Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Guess what?
“McDavid might be the best player ever,” Dallas forward Matt Duchene said.
“He is the most talented player that I’ve ever seen play the game, that I’ve ever played against,” said retired defenseman P.K. Subban, the ESPN analyst. “I think he’s going to show the world how great he is.”
First, he must win the Cup. It won’t be easy against the Panthers, who are in the final again and are fueled by rink rat Matthew Tkachuk. This could be McDavid’s best shot if management loses his brilliant teammate, Leon Draisaitl, in 2025 free agency. The sense is strong that this is the time to sell Connor to America.
“I feel like I’m more comfortable in these environments and speaking my mind on a couple things,” McDavid said. “That being said, I’m still not the most outspoken guy. When I feel my voice can contribute, I’m not afraid to share it. The political side of things I leave to the experts. I have nothing really to add on that stuff. I know hockey, and I know hockey well. I try to stick with it.”
The media mob gathered Friday. He tried to play along. “I love sports. I love hockey,” he said. “I’ve seen lots of these days and always wanted to be a part of one, so it’s special to be here right now.”
Does he enjoy being part of show business, with the NBA Finals? “What’s Hollywood about me. Not much. Not much at all,” he laughed. “Just a normal Canadian kid.”
He’s thrilled to reach June and touch his life dreams. “Growing up, I just remember how exciting it was,” McDavid said. “I think any time you would see the Stanley Cup on TV, it was always a special thing. I used to love watching, obviously. As I’ve been in the league, I think I’ve watched less of the final. I mean, I would still watch here and there, but when you’re in the league and you’re as competitive as everyone is, it’s not always easy to see the Cup passed around. It’s just been a great journey from being that young kid to being in this position now.”
In his mind, he responded well when asked about serving Canadian interests. “We’re a Canadian team and we’ve got great Canadian fans,” McDavid said. “And it feels good to maybe unite the country a little bit and bring people together.”
People in Calgary and Winnipeg and Toronto aren’t rooting for the Oilers. Connor McDavid should win for himself and for Edmonton, along with the concept that the best hockey player on Earth deserves acclaim. If not, people can skinny-dip in the flooded grasslands of Sunrise, outside Amerant Bank Arena. But if you enjoy greatness?
Join him in the northlands, wherever they are.
###
Jay Mariotti, called “without question the most impacting Chicago sportswriter of the past quarter-century,’’ writes general sports columns for Substack while appearing on some of the 1,678,498 podcasts and shows in production today. He is an accomplished columnist, TV panelist and talk/podcast host. Living in Los Angeles, he gravitated by osmosis to film projects.