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Why Oilers will finally end Canada’s 32-year Stanley Cup drought
It’s been 32 years since a Canadian team last lifted the Stanley Cup.
The year was 1993. Jurassic Park dominated the box office. Janet Jackson’s "That’s the Way Love Goes" topped the charts. The Toronto Blue Jays were defending World Series champions. And most Canadians didn’t know what a PDF was — it had just been invented.
That June, the Montreal Canadiens beat Wayne Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings to win it all. It hasn't happened since.
In three-plus decades, seven Canadian teams have reached the Final and all have lost. This includes the Vancouver Canucks (1994, 2011), Calgary Flames (2004), Edmonton Oilers (2006, 2024), Ottawa Senators (2007) and Montreal again (2021).
It’s been close. It’s been crushing. And it’s become a running joke — or worse, a wound — for Canadian hockey fans every spring.
But this year feels different.
After taking down the Dallas Stars 4-1 in the Western Conference Final, the Oilers are back. Connor McDavid is on a mission. And this team looks hungrier, deeper and more prepared than it did a year ago.
I hope they pull it off.
— thedynamics.bsky.social (@theDYNAMICS) May 30, 2025
It’s a damn embarrassment a Canadian team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup in 32 years. https://t.co/SkhxNIWN5h
Here are five reasons why 2025 is the year the Stanley Cup finally comes home to Canada — and why the Oilers are built to end the drought once and for all.
1. The NHL needs McDavid to win
If You're Not Rooting For Connor McDavid To Win The Cup This Year, You Hate Hockey https://t.co/Y9Jclwy88v pic.twitter.com/4Iy1UvQDHY
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 31, 2025
Ten years into his career, Connor McDavid’s trophy case is stacked: five Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Memorial Trophies, a Rocket Richard and even a Conn Smythe.
But there’s still one glaring omission: the Stanley Cup.
McDavid is the face of the league and arguably the most electrifying player of any generation. Like Alex Ovechkin in 2018, a long-overdue McDavid Cup win wouldn’t just be good for Edmonton — it would elevate both his legacy and the NHL’s global profile.
It’s time.
2. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are rewriting playoff history
Yes, Zach Hyman’s injury is a concern. But the McDavid–Draisaitl duo should be illegal.
In their last two postseasons, they’ve combined for a ridiculous 124 points (31 goals, 93 assists) over just 41 games. That’s not just elite, it’s historic.
McDavid now ranks second all-time in playoff points per game (1.62) among players with at least 50 games, trailing only Gretzky (1.84) and ahead of Mario Lemieux (1.61).
Draisaitl’s 1.48 P/GP also ranks among the top five in NHL history.
3. The blue line is peaking at the right time
Edmonton has allowed just 1.90 goals against per 60 minutes this postseason — among the best of any team past the first round.
Mattias Ekholm’s return came at the perfect time, rejoining a steady D-core with Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse that’s defending hard and moving the puck cleanly. Trade-deadline pickup Jake Walman has also quietly added stability and mobility.
4. In Skinner we trust
Stuart Skinner took heat after losing the first two games against the Kings. Then Calvin Pickard stepped in and went 6-0 until an injury opened the door.
After a very tough start, Stuart Skinner has found his game and posted the league’s best save percentage on shots off the rush & shots from the slot since May 12 pic.twitter.com/TTAcgMcnHT
— Meghan Chayka (@MeghanChayka) June 2, 2025
In the last seven games, Skinner has gone 6-1 with three shutouts, a .944 save percentage and a 1.41 GAA.
If Skinner keeps this up, he could be the difference. In three wins during last year’s Final, Skinner posted a 1.67 GAA and a .942 save percentage— proving he can rise when it matters most.
5. Momentum and belief
After years of heartbreak, this Oilers team believes, and so does the country. Since starting the playoffs 0-2, the Oilers have gone 12-2. The swagger is real. The momentum is peaking. And the Cup feels closer to Canada than it has in decades.
More must-reads:
- Conn Smythe rankings as Stanley Cup Final begins: Oilers stars lead the way
- Panthers HC Paul Maurice has a strong opinion of his team
- The 'Most points in one Stanley Cup Playoffs' quiz
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