'Not even close to reality': Connor McDavid dismisses Oilers’ heartbroken tag

Connor McDavid made it clear this week that he doesn’t buy into the idea that the Edmonton Oilers are defined by heartbreak. In a sit-down feature on TSN with teammate Zach Hyman, the Oilers captain reflected on the past two seasons where Edmonton came within reach of the Stanley Cup but ultimately fell short.

Edmonton’s 2025 run included a stunning comeback in Game 4, capped by Leon Draisaitl’s overtime winner, but the Panthers ultimately finished the job on home ice. Those consecutive defeats were painful reminders of how close the Oilers have come, yet McDavid insisted they have only added fuel to the fire.

Edmonont is more motivated than ever

Asked what finally bringing the Stanley Cup to Edmonton would mean, McDavid admitted it’s almost too big to describe. “We’ve been close and we’re still chasing it. Everyone knows what it would mean to our group and the city,” he said.

Hyman pressed further, noting how the team has battled deep into the playoffs only to be stopped just shy of the ultimate goal. McDavid responded with a firm dismissal of the “heartbroken” label.

“I think just cause you lose in the final doesn’t mean that there aren’t wins. For sure. I think everybody thinks about the Oilers as this heartbroken team, but that’s not true at all. We’ve had a lot of success over the last number of years in our runs and stuff like that. We’ve won a lot of playoff series, we’ve won a lot of playoff games,” McDavid said.

“We know how to win when it matters. So, yeah, I think that narrative that we’re this heartbroken group that’s just devastated is not even close to reality. I think we’re the most motivated group in the league. Yeah, we’ve learned lots. I think it’s only motivated us more, which I think is a dangerous thing,” he added.

The Oilers captain believes the team is now stronger than ever heading into the 2025–26 season.

Connor McDavid reminisces about Zach Hyman signing with the Oilers

The two also revisited the moment Hyman first joined the Oilers. The winger signed with Edmonton as a free agent on July 28, 2021, inking a seven-year deal after six seasons in Toronto. McDavid remembered calling Hyman, expecting to deliver a recruiting pitch, only to be told he had already signed.

“It just felt like we were buddies for a long time, even though we hadn’t met yet,” McDavid laughed. The pair even roomed together briefly while Hyman settled into his new city, a memory both players recalled fondly.