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Connor McDavid stood in the elevator, waiting for his family to arrive so they could slip in unnoticed. His brother was the first to embrace him, but there were no words exchanged as the McDavids ascended towards the Conrad hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
It was well past midnight—long after the final seconds of the last game had ticked away—and there remained little to discuss.
No way to rationalize falling just short of what could have been one of the most remarkable comebacks in Stanley Cup Final history. No joy came from being named the playoff MVP despite leading the losing team. No solace in coming closer to a championship than he ever had before—one game away. All that mattered now seemed meaningless in the face of defeat.
Once it concluded—after every Florida Panther had celebrated with the Stanley Cup and as the Conn Smythe Trophy remained untouched, after the tearful Oilers sought comfort in their locker room, and as the celebration outside Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., dwindled behind the Edmonton bus—the best player in the world requested his family’s presence.
The family assembled in the living room of Connor’s suite. No one turned on the lights. They sat together in the dark, enveloped in silence.
Throughout McDavid’s nine seasons in the NHL, he faced numerous disappointments as he emerged as the most dominant player of his generation. Typically, his mother, Kelly, could highlight the positives amid the frustrations, but today even she struggled to console her son, whom she spoke to nearly every day. Over the past two months, Connor had been so focused through four intense playoff rounds that she had only heard from him a handful of times.
After more than ten minutes of silence, Connor’s father, Brian, finally broke the quiet:
“The sun will rise tomorrow,” he declared.
A straightforward observation of truth, regardless of what they believed. It was enough to signal the passage of time.
“And I’ve got my son back,” Kelly added. “I haven’t spoken to you much in two months.”
“I know,” Connor replied. “It’s been really hard, Mom.”
The Oilers had planned a festive dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, celebrating if the team had won. They might as well utilize the arrangements, Connor suggested. Thus, in the early hours of a new day, the family joined other Oilers players and their families on the hotel patio, facing the ocean, resembling a gathering after a wake. Together they lingered—grieving what had been lost while finding small comfort in their accomplishments—until dawn approached.
Connor McDavid departed from the Panthers’ celebration following the Game 7 defeat. (Elsa / Getty Images)
Being part of the group that endures a Game 7 loss is a rare experience.
In 1994, Trevor Linden drove home from Vancouver International Airport after a flight from New York, witnessing the sunrise as he traveled. The previous night, thousands had gathered, anxiously awaiting the Canucks’ arrival following their Game 7 defeat to the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Final. While downtown Vancouver descended into chaos, Linden remained oblivious to the destruction around him. On that warm summer morning, he sensed an unsettling stillness as he made his way back to his home in the beachside Kitsilano neighborhood. Hours later, he awoke to find his reflection revealing a broken nose and two black eyes, his face looking gaunt and pale, appearing skinnier than he recalled.
“What a waste,” Linden pondered. “You have nothing.”
Decades later, that feeling persists.
“It’s astonishing that 60 minutes can encapsulate your entire career,” he reflected. “You endure 82 games followed by two and a half months of the toughest hockey you’ll ever experience, only for it to culminate in a single game.”
That game fades into a blur, as time quickens while your team falls behind, leading to the inevitable end.
“The pain of defeat is most palpable when it’s Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final,” Linden expressed. “The emptiness afterward — it’s challenging to articulate.”
J.S. Giguere stood awkwardly on the ice while the New Jersey Devils celebrated their Stanley Cup victory after the 2003 final’s Game 7, having just been informed he was awarded the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP — the last player from a losing team to receive the honor until McDavid claimed it in June. His teammates were unaware of his achievement; he left the trophy behind in the hallway when he rejoined them. Giguere had delivered the best performance of his career, yet he felt no joy in the accolade. Players sat in silence, weeping, contemplating what had been and what might have been.
“It resembled a funeral,” Giguere recalled.
The Ducks goalie also looked at his reflection. His lengthy playoff beard had been a source of irritation for months. He decided to shave it off in the locker room that night in New Jersey before finally reuniting with his family in the corridor and departing for the long trip home. He vowed never to grow a beard again.
Chris Pronger took 13 years to reach Game 7. After the Oilers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, he sat in the hotel lobby with his teammates, sharing cold beers and finding solace in their journey — acknowledging how they had fought since January just to reach the playoffs and had forced a final game after trailing the Hurricanes throughout the series.
“You were so close to emerging happy and excited, ready to celebrate being champions for the following three months,” Pronger reflected. “And then you lose Game 7 — so what comes next? … There is no Game 8. This is it. There is no tomorrow.”
Goalie J.S. Giguere is consoled by teammate Keith Carney after the Ducks’ loss in 2003. The playoff beard disappeared soon after. (Al Bello / Getty Images/NHLI)
Long in the works, McDavid’s bachelor party was set to kick off just two days after Game 7. As the Oilers navigated through the playoffs last spring, they showed little interest in discussing the details of the event, leaving the inconvenient timing unaddressed until after the postseason. The original plan included a flight to Amsterdam followed by a trip to Berlin to explore the city and enjoy a match during the ongoing UEFA Euro championships. Afterward, they intended to make their way to London for a concert by Kings of Leon.
However, that well-crafted itinerary had to be abandoned. Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse were in McDavid’s wedding party, and they all agreed that now was not the right moment for a European getaway. Cam, McDavid’s brother, along with Connor’s close friend and agent, Adam Phillips, took charge of the new plans and quickly pivoted. They arranged for accommodations at a friend’s home in Albany, Bahamas, a luxurious resort community in New Providence known for hosting celebrities like Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake, boasting a strict no photo, no autograph policy.
In the weekend following their defeat, they unwound in a hot tub on the patio, enjoyed the beach, and attempted to play golf. Their tee time was postponed by two hours due to rain, and they managed to complete only eight holes before the rain returned.
Yet, being in the Bahamas during hurricane season allowed for some tranquility amidst the storms. The song ”I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen played continuously throughout the weekend. (McDavid is an avid fan of country music.) He tried to immerse himself in the spirit of the celebration, but the emotional aftermath of the loss lingered heavily.
“It felt a bit odd,” McDavid shared.
On their final night, McDavid found himself in the theater room of the residence with Cam and Adam. They stayed up late, reminiscing about life while watching John Mayer videos on YouTube and listening to songs by Pat Robitaille, a Canadian artist whom Connor had invited to perform during his proposal.
“There was a lot of discussion among everyone,” McDavid remarked. “It was nice to let off some steam, but it also felt a bit strange. You’re meant to be celebrating and having fun, but it wasn’t quite that way.”
After a few days, while the winners reveled in their success, the losers began to pack their gear, face the media, conduct their exit interviews, and ultimately depart.
Pronger headed to Mexico with his wife to recuperate from a sore back, aching knee, swollen elbow, and lingering regrets.
Linden retreated to his cabin by a lake in Montana to process his grief.
“It’s a loss,” Linden reflected. “It feels like mourning.”
Six days after his Game 7 defeat, Giguere traveled to Nova Scotia for his wedding. The“`html
the one that escaped continues to hurt.
“You find yourself getting up and attending to daily tasks without any real focus,” he reflected. “That’s the mindset you find yourself in after two months of playoff hockey and 82 games.”
Eventually, they all shifted their attention to a new season.
For Scott Niedermayer, right (with his brother Rob and mother Carol in 2007), securing a Stanley Cup is the only fitting conclusion to a playoff campaign. (Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)
McDavid took a longer time than usual to get back into the swing of things. In his earlier days, he would have immediately dived back into training, fixated on correcting even the slightest imperfection. However, after nine seasons in the league — boasting three Hart trophies as the MVP, five Art Ross trophies for being the point leader, but still without a Stanley Cup — McDavid has come to realize that rushing ahead can sometimes lead to setbacks.
“After last summer and heading into the new season, I felt exhausted; I had overworked my body. I got injured right from the start and spent the entire year trying to catch up,” McDavid explained. “I didn’t want to repeat that.”
He spent several weeks in early July at his Muskoka cottage alongside his fiancée, Lauren Kyle, and family, preparing for their wedding in early August. The serene lake brought him peace after facing previous letdowns — losing in the first round, the conference finals, and the second round. Each defeat brought its own unique challenges, both physically and mentally. The deepest playoff run ended in disappointment, creating a profound sense of fatigue. Plus, the wedding drew near.
“Life came at us like a firehose,” he noted. “We were experiencing so many different emotions. You concentrate on the playoff journey, and then all of a sudden it’s over, and we’re thrust right into the next phase.”
While at the cottage, McDavid engaged in his favorite pastimes. He enjoyed sitting in the sauna before plunging into the cold water, using the golf simulator, swimming, boating, and wake surfing. He played tennis and a lot of pickleball. “I wouldn’t want to call us big pickleball enthusiasts because that doesn’t seem cool,” Cam joked. “But we definitely play a fair amount.”
By mid-July, McDavid began his training regime, working out alongside Draisaitl at St. Andrew’s College, located north of Toronto, under the watchful eye of his longtime strength coach, Gary Roberts.
A few weeks later, during the first weekend of August, McDavid and Lauren exchanged vows on a specially designed floating dock on Lake Muskoka. They enjoyed a four-day celebration with their closest friends at Old Woman Island, a private archipelago on the lake dotted with extravagant estates. Cam felt anxious about delivering the best man’s speech but hit just the right notes, sharing anecdotes about Connor’s quiet demeanor, generous heart,“`html
Today, Giguere proudly holds the distinction of being one of only six players to have been awarded the Conn Smythe while playing for a losing team. He executed the finest performance of his career. However, as a child, winning an MVP trophy was not part of his dreams.
“You’re there for the Cup,” Giguere remarked. “Not a single day has passed where I wouldn’t trade that trophy for a second Cup.”
When the Anaheim Ducks faced off against the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 Cup Final, the pain of past defeats appeared to benefit Giguere.
“You understand the energy required to reach that point. The sacrifices made. The hope for another opportunity,” he explained. “That’s where experience plays a role when you get another shot. … Any mistakes from before are lessons you won’t repeat.”
As Game 5 concluded, Giguere jumped in elation, embracing Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Gary Bettman presented the Stanley Cup to Niedermayer, the captain of the team he had previously faced and defeated in 2003. While winning can soften the sting of past defeats, it never completely fades, Pronger noted, who had joined the Ducks the season after losing Game 7 with the Oilers. If it’s your solitary opportunity, that experience lingers in a distinct manner. He vividly recalled the expressions of the oldest players on the Oilers after their 2006 loss, aware that they had likely just let their last chance to win the Cup slip away. Their tears were impactful.
“You never know how many years are left for you,” Pronger said. “You never know when your moment will come.”
Connor McDavid is back and ready to take another run for that elusive Stanley Cup in 2024-25. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
Outside
He spoke about how it lingers and influences one’s life. Reflecting on discussions with several players who have experienced similar situations, he mentioned, “I’m curious to hear what some of the others say about how they cope with it.”
Having just played his first preseason match, where he achieved a goal and an assist in a 6-3 defeat against Calgary, he found himself surrounded by a throng of reporters. They inquired about a viral clip from a forthcoming documentary that depicted him reprimanding his team after the loss in the second game of the final series against the Florida Panthers.
“That’s not acceptable!” McDavid yelled. “Dig deep. Right now.”
This eruption even caught his closest friends, like Cam, off guard. It was an unusual display of the intense drive that fuels him. Although the Oilers faced another defeat and were perilously close to being swept, they rallied to force that memorable Game 7.
The team captain admitted that he hasn’t reflected much on the Conn Smythe Trophy he received. He clarified that skipping the on-ice presentation while the Panthers celebrated was not meant to show any disrespect.
“I believed it was essential to share those moments with my teammates.”
The replica trophy given to McDavid does not play a significant role among his numerous individual awards.
“Ah,” he remarked. “It joins the rest of them.”
As he embarks on his 10th NHL season, McDavid appears disinterested in his reputation as the finest player of his era. Currently, he is 18 points shy of the 1,000 mark — an achievement that would make him the third-fastest player in league history to reach this milestone, following Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, provided he accomplishes it in less than 11 games.
If he does, it will simply add to “the rest of them.”
McDavid is looking forward.
“You discover a lot about yourself during that journey. You learn a great deal about your teammates while navigating all those challenges. Everyone seems to share a calm understanding of it, which is reassuring,” McDavid expressed. “You won’t find yourself in a more significant hockey game than that one.”
The room was now vacant. It was late, and a new day was just hours away.
“It’s challenging to articulate, but time continues; life goes on,” McDavid reflected. “And you’ve got to prepare to move forward.”
(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic. Photos: Codie McLachlan / Getty Images; David E. Klutho / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images;
Graig Abel / Getty Images; Dave Sandford / Getty Images/NHLI)
Connor McDavid’s Heartbreak: Reflecting on a Stanley Cup Final Loss and the Journey Ahead
The Emotional Toll of Loss
The journey of an athlete is filled with highs and lows, and Connor McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, has recently experienced a profound heartbreak following his team’s defeat in the Stanley Cup Final. This significant moment not only marks a disappointment in his career but also provides insights into the emotional resilience required to bounce back.
The Weight of Expectations
- High Hopes: As one of the league’s premier talents, McDavid carries the weight of expectations not only from fans but also from himself.
- Legacy on the Line: Each season, especially one that leads to the Finals, adds pressure to secure a championship for a franchise desperate for success.
- Public Scrutiny: With fame comes criticism; every play is analyzed, and losses are heavily scrutinized.
Highlights of the Stanley Cup Playoff Journey
Despite the heartbreak, McDavid’s performance during the playoffs was nothing short of spectacular, culminating in him winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This accolade is a testament to his skill, determination, and leadership throughout the tournament.
Key Playoff Stats
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 23 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Assists | 20 |
| Points | 32 |
Lessons Learned from Adversity
McDavid’s journey, filled with adversity, serves as a source of inspiration. The lessons learned from setbacks can propel athletes to greater heights.
Building Mental Toughness
- Emotional Regulation: Learning to manage emotions during high-pressure situations is crucial for performance.
- Focus on the Process: Concentrating on incremental improvements rather than the destination can enhance performance.
- Support Systems: Relying on coaches, teammates, and family can provide the emotional reinforcement needed during tough times.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Recovery
For McDavid and the Oilers, the path forward is paved with opportunity. Analyzing the losses and adapting will be key to future success.
Strategic Offseason Changes
- Team Dynamics: Evaluating the current roster for potential trades or acquisitions to strengthen weak spots.
- Coaching Adjustments: Implementing new strategies based on playoff performance to enhance team play.
- Training Regimen: Focusing on both physical and mental training during the offseason to prepare for the next campaign.
Community Impact and Leadership
McDavid’s influence extends beyond the ice; he is a role model for aspiring athletes and a key figure in the Edmonton community. His leadership during adversity can inspire the next generation.
Philanthropic Efforts
- Community Engagement: McDavid often participates in local charity events, using his platform to give back.
- Youth Programs: Supporting youth hockey initiatives helps cultivate the sport at the grassroots level.
- Spreading Positivity: Utilizing social media to promote mental health awareness among young athletes.
Conclusion
While Connor McDavid’s recent Stanley Cup Final loss represents a significant heartbreak, it also opens the door for growth, resilience, and renewed determination. The lessons learned during this challenging time will not only shape his future but also serve as an inspiration to fans and teammates alike.
