When the 2022-23 season suddenly came to an end for the Edmonton Oilers, who were outsed in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Vegas Golden Knights, captain Connor McDavid was already focused on the next campaign.
Despite being heartbroken by the loss, when he truly thought the Oilers would make it all the way.
“That feeling in the room has really sat with me for a long time now, you know, ever since that series ended,” McDavid told Sportsnet. “It’s something that we’re all going to want to hold on to. When we’re back in that situation, maybe when we’re down in a series, understanding that the time is now to do it. Because once it’s over, it’s over. You don’t get any re-runs.
“That was just as big of a feeling in our room: how far away you are from being in that exact same position and getting a chance to do it over again. So you don’t want to have any regrets.”
In the exit interview in May, both McDavid and teammate Leon Draisaitl were clear about the future in Edmonton: “It’s Cup or bust.”
Months later, the captain still focuses on that mentality and is looking to make it all the way, though he may be holding back a bit, fearing to be gutted again next spring.
“I would say that is a fair assessment. But with that being said, I’ve always had a strong belief in our team,” he said. “We have a good team, we have a good roster, and we’ve gone through some steps. Through some stages. That being said, it’s a long year.”
He added: “We look back at that Vegas series and it’s really the small, little moments. The small, little things that make all the difference in the world. We felt like whoever won that series was going to have a great opportunity to keep moving on, in what was a little bit of a strange playoffs with big teams going out early.
“It was just disappointing because the belief was there, and it was so high. We felt like the series was close. That we had a real chance.”
They did. McDavid wants to be an even better leader, and I cannot wait to see what he does on NHL ice this season, with that desire to win fuelling through his veins - and also the hope to end the 2023-24 season with a better feeling.
