Emily Butt, who recently moved to Alberta from Newfoundland, shows off the T-shirt she bought ahead of the Edmonton Oilers' second-straight Stanley Cup final appearance.Amber Bracken/The Globe and Mail
On June 3, sports reporter Paul Attfield and Alberta bureau chief Mark Iype answered reader questions about the Edmonton Oilers’ NHL playoff run as they once again face the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup – and attempt to put an end to Canada’s championship drought.
- How Edmonton can win
- The Panthers rematch
- The last Canadian team
Table of contents
Readers asked about the Oilers’ chances of victory against the Panthers, the key players involved and whether Canadians nationwide are really rooting for the last local team in the finals (in spite of their usual allegiances). Here are some highlights from the Q+A.
Questions and answers have been edited and condensed.
The Oilers and Panthers are facing off for the Stanley Cup again. Here’s everything you need to know
How Edmonton can win
What’s the energy like in Edmonton right now?
Mark Iype: There is a real buzz in the city right now. You can’t walk 10 feet without seeing a sign, a jersey, a dog wearing an Oilers bandana. The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and the Oilers are in the final, and there is a real uplifting feeling in Edmonton. Lots of excitement (mixed with a little worry).
Outside the obvious, who can be the Oiler’s X-factor in this final series?
Paul Attfield: I’ll go with Evan Bouchard, assuming he doesn’t qualify as among the obvious! According to the NHL, the Oilers defenceman averages 1.09 points per playoff game, well above his 0.69 rate of return in the regular season.
Indeed, his plus 0.4 point differential is the highest in NHL history by players who have played more than 50 games in both playoffs and regular season, marginally higher than second-placed Leon Draisaitl’s plus 0.27 (1.48 in the playoffs; 1.21 in the regular season).
And with 17 points through 16 games, he leads all defencemen in scoring in this year’s playoffs.
Wayne Gretzky hoists the Stanley Cup following the Oilers' victory in 1987.LARRY MACDOUGAL/Supplied
Is this iteration of the Oilers comparable to the great teams of the 1980s? Is McDavid the new Gretzky?
Iype: I don’t love comparing era to era because the game has evolved so much and the league has changed so significantly since then. But if you’re going to find a comparison to Gretzky, McDavid isn’t a bad choice. One thing those ’80s teams did was help generate excitement for a whole generation of fans from coast to coast because they were so good and fun to watch. I think this iteration of the team can have that type of impact. The Oilers will pull in more fans because even a casual hockey fan can watch Edmonton and appreciate the sheer speed and skill that you see in McDavid.
With Zach Hyman injured and an important part of our team, realistically, how much does this hurt the chances of winning the Stanley Cup against the Florida Panthers?
Attfield: There’s no question that Zach Hyman is a big loss for the Oilers, with his 11 points in 15 games. But this isn’t the same Oilers team as the one in which Hyman scored a career-high 54 goals last year. The Oilers seem to have diversified their offence more, and there are seven Edmonton players that have scored as many or more than Hyman’s five playoff goals this year, so I don’t think his loss is as crucial as it would have been this time last year.
Florida Panthers centre Brad Marchand drives against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.Chris Seward/The Associated Press
The Panthers rematch
What are the key differences on each team that might suggest a similar or different outcome to last year? Is this 2.0? Or two very different teams going into the final?
Attfield: I think one of the key differences for the Oilers is their ability to spread around the offence. Last year, they had only six scorers in double digits through their 25 playoff games. This season, they have seven through just 16 games.
For the Panthers, their additions of Brad Marchand and Seth Jones have been hugely impactful, with Marchand chipping in with 14 points in 17 games from the third line, with Jones helping add an extra dimension to Florida’s power play.
Does Edmonton have a chance with Florida’s style of play?
Iype: I think this year’s version of the Oilers matches up better with the Panthers because their style of play is more like Florida. That grinding, frustrating hockey that makes teams earn every inch is what has made the Panthers so good for the last few years. And I think the Oilers have taken a page out of that book to try and mirror that style, which has shown up during this year’s playoff run.
The difference between the two teams in my eyes (and the biggest difference between the Oilers and all teams) is the presence of two game-breaking superstars who can pounce on a mistake and make a team pay. McDavid and Draisaitl can be the difference.
How important is home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup finals?
Attfield: Home-ice advantage has proved extremely critical in recent years, with the team with that edge winning the Stanley Cup in each of the past four seasons, so Edmonton will be relieved to have potentially four of the possibly seven games played at Rogers Place. However, Florida has shown itself to be one of the best road teams in recent NHL playoff history. The Eastern Conference final saw the Panthers tie a franchise record with their eighth road win in one playoff year, while also setting the NHL mark for total goals through 10 road games in a single post-season with 48.
The Cats have also won all three of their series this spring on the road, and can join a select group of just four teams (2008 Red Wings, 2009 Penguins, 2018 Capitals, 2022 Avalanche) to win four series on the road in a single postseason.
What is Brad Marchand’s contribution to the Panther’s success?
Attfield: With 14 points in 17 playoff games, Brad Marchand has brought a lot to the Panthers’ offence. But he brings a lot more than simply statistics. Obviously his championship pedigree – from his 2011 Stanley Cup win – fits right in with Florida’s championship credentials. He loves to play when the pressure is on, and gives added bite to the Panthers’ third line.
Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner can make the difference for his team this series.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Will Skinner’s goaltending hold up if Florida forwards get in his kitchen?
Attfield: It’s an interesting question, and one in which we’ll only really know the answer in a couple of weeks. Take last year for example. In the three games that the Oilers won, Skinner had a 1.67 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. However, in the four losses he sported a 2.85 GAA and .876 save percentage. One certainty is that Skinner’s teammates will have to look out for him. Obviously they’ll want to avoid what happened between Florida forward Sam Bennett and Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz in the second round, so expect players like Corey Perry and Evander Kane to be extra prickly if Florida decides to ‘get in his kitchen’ as you say.
Why are the Florida teams so dominant? What can be done about it?
Iype: I know there’s been a lot of talk in recent days about Florida and other U.S. states that have huge tax advantages over other markets and giving that as a reason for their winning teams. And while there might be some truth to that and it might be advantageous come free agency when teams are all fighting to build the best roster under a salary cap, I think the one thing that fixes things is winning.
Edmonton might not be the most attractive market for some players if you compare the eight months of winter with palm trees in January, but having a chance to hoist that cup is probably pretty enticing as well.
As for what can be done about it? I don’t think the league wants to get into it. Way too complicated trying to find ways to even the playing field.
Is the Oilers bandwagon a vehicle for national unity? It depends on who gets aboard
The last Canadian team
Are the Oilers shaping up to be “Canada’s team”?
Iype: A few years ago, when I was the editor of the Edmonton Journal, we ran an editorial declaring the Oilers “Canada’s team”, taking a tongue in cheek shot at Ottawa who were still in the playoffs. I have never gotten more hate mail over anything than I got after that.
So, here I go again.
Yes, the Oilers can be Canada’s team. I would never expect anyone to abandon their team fandom for the sake of cheering on a rival (I see you, Calgary), but if there was ever a time to do it, now might be it.
In a province that is playing footsie with a band of separatists and threatening national unity, now is as good a time as ever to get behind the Oilers.
Are the finals shaping up to be another political “Canada vs. USA” matchup, like the 4 Nations Face Off?
Iype: I was lucky enough to get to Game 4 last week against Dallas, and the singing of the national anthem in the building was an experience. The crowd belting out O Canada had real feeling behind it. Couldn’t help but feel national pride singing along.
I think the U.S. vs. Canada sentiment is there, but probably faded a little from a few months ago.
Do you think that 2025 is the year to bring back the Stanley Cup to Canada?
Attfield: The wait has been far too long, and following Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off win earlier this year, it would be great to see the Stanley Cup come north too! But I think this Oilers team is ready to slay the dragon. They learned a lot from the crushing disappointment last year, and the way they’ve powered their way back to the final this year shows their growth, knocking off highly favoured teams in the shape of Vegas and Dallas. In addition, with 19 different goal scorers through the playoffs, they’ve evolved from being a team highly dependent on Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, to one that can get a balance of scoring. I think it’s their time.