Brutal admission from Connor McDavid in Oilers’ exit interview

At the start of the 2023-24 season, Oilers captain Connor McDavid had said that it was ‘Cup or Bust’ in Edmonton this year. Having lost the Stanley Cup Finals in seven games to the Florida Panthers, I don’t think the Oilers should see the past season as a bust.

McDavid was a true leader, through the ups and downs of the regular calendar and in the postseason, and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player during the playoffs despite playing for the losing team. However, McDavid did not come out onto the ice to accept the Conn Smythe trophy on Monday night on Florida ice.

Facing media in Edmonton on Wednesday in the exit interview, McDavid appeared defeated and made the heartbreaking admission that he really thought this year was going to be different, that his team was going to win the championship.

“The belief has never been higher.”

When asked about his feelings in the post-game presser of the Finals, McDavid could only say that “it sucks.” He was however visibly emotional and would have most likely traded in his Conn Smythe Trophy for the Stanley Cup in a heartbeat.

The feeling remains the same and it’s even more tough to see that McDavid had the intense belief that he and his teammates were going to head back home, partying with the Stanley Cup.

Now another hard phase comes at the Oilers with many tough decisions to make on pending free agents and the possibility of negotiating a contract extension with Leon Draisaitl as soon as Monday. Everyone knows that the outcome of what happens between Edmonton and Draisaitl will have an immense effect on McDavid, and let’s just hope he has the same strong feeling that the superstar center will stay put with the Oilers.