Is it fair for a superstar in the NHL to be judged only on winning Stanley Cups? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is approaching that stage in his career when the question is asked.
He’s in his ninth season in Edmonton. Other superstars like Steven Stamkos and Alexander Ovechkin eventually got their Cup lift and lap after years of coming up just short.
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Of course, superstars like McDavid can only control so much, from random hot goaltending to who the GM acquires or doesn’t acquire due to the salary cap. At times, McDavid has been frustrated. But he’s also been patient, signing a long extension to stay in Edmonton and showing his faith in the Oilers organization to eventually get it done and win the team’s first Stanley Cup since 1990 — and Canada’s first since 1993.
The Oilers are Canada’s last hope this season to break that streak and finally win the Cup. That means the pressure is on McDavid and the Oilers to prove themselves even though they are underdogs in the series against the Dallas Stars.
Fair or not, that’s the reality of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars — Game 1
How to watch: 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT, SN
Series odds: Stars -125, Oilers -105
• Dallas is back in the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive year. Vegas eliminated the Stars in six games last year. The Stars are 4-8 in conference final Game 1s all time.
• If you’re looking for players to root for who haven’t won a Stanley Cup, the Stars duo of Ryan Suter and Joe Pavelski is the pair you want to root for. They’re both 39 years old and are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in regular-season games played among active players without a Stanley Cup. Suter has played 1,444 games, and Pavelski has played 1,332 games.
• Our NHL writers and editors give a huge edge to the Dallas Stars in this series. More than 87 percent of people who responded picked the Stars to beat the Oilers and more than half expect the series to end in six games. Our writers said the biggest factor is that Dallas has a huge edge in the net with Jake Oettinger vs. Stuart Skinner for the Oilers.
• An anonymous scout, coach and executive evaluated the series, and two of the three picked the Stars to advance. Some said that the Oilers are fatigued after their seven-game series with Vancouver, while the Stars had no issues putting away the slumping Avalanche.
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(Photo of Connor McDavid: Derek Cain / Getty Images)