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Tkachuk told McDavid last year he'd see Edmonton Oilers back in Stanley Cup Final

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
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May 30 2025, 2:58 pm
Tkachuk told McDavid last year he'd see Edmonton Oilers back in Stanley Cup Final
Sportsnet

During Matthew Tkachuk’s nine-year NHL career, few fanbases have had more reason to dislike him than the Edmonton Oilers.

Before he was a Stanley Cup winner with the Florida Panthers, Tkachuk was a thorn in the Oilers’ side for six seasons while a member of the Calgary Flames.

But shortly after his biggest career accomplishment last season, when his Panthers knocked off the Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk made a bold but accurate prediction to Edmonton captain Connor McDavid.

“We’ll see you next year, eh?” Tkachuk told a gutted McDavid in the handshake line on the ice after the game.

Sure, it might’ve just been a nice gesture to an opponent after an all-time playoff series, but it’s also not the easiest thing in the world to call — and looks weirdly prophetic after how the postseason shook out.

It’s the first Stanley Cup final rematch since 2009, when the Detroit Red Wings fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins after defeating them a year prior.

The Panthers are also in their third consecutive final, falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.

“I remember a few years ago, it felt like such an accomplishment,” Tkachuk said, per ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. “This year, it’s all business… It was really different two years ago. It was so new to us. Whoever we play, we’ll be very prepared for them. It’s not our first rodeo with this.”

McDavid was putting on a similar demeanour after advancing to the Final once again.

“I think this run has felt different than last year,” McDavid told reporters Thursday night. “It’s felt very normal, it’s felt very, I don’t wanna say boring, cause it’s not boring at all, but it hasn’t been as emotional… we haven’t had the highs, and we haven’t had the lows. Just been steady, and I think that’s put us in a good position.”

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is set for next Wednesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

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