“Hungry for History: With Captain McDavid Leading the Charge, the Edmonton Oilers are Locked In and Refusing to Stop Until the Stanley Cup is Ours.

The air in Edmonton is electric. The banners wave with pride, the jerseys fly off shelves, and the chants reverberate through Rogers Place louder than they have in decades. The Edmonton Oilers aren’t just chasing the Stanley Cup—they’re on a mission to etch their names into history. And leading the charge with relentless tenacity is none other than Captain Connor McDavid.

After years of heartbreak, rebuilding, and inching closer to the NHL’s holy grail, the Oilers of 2025 have arrived—not as contenders, but as a juggernaut with one singular goal: to bring Lord Stanley back to Alberta. No excuses. No mercy. Just hunger, belief, and one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.

Connor McDavid’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of Herculean. Since being selected first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, McDavid has lived under the immense pressure of expectation—and not only has he delivered, he’s exceeded every bar set before him.

This season, McDavid hasn’t just dominated statistically—though his 132 points during the regular season are a testament to that. He’s evolved into a complete leader, blending his transcendent speed and vision with vocal, physical, and emotional investment in every shift. Opposing defenses scheme around him; fans pay to witness his genius. But more than that, his teammates feed off his fire.

“He’s not just playing for the points anymore,” said Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. “He’s playing to win. Period.”

That mindset has become infectious. Gone are the days of Edmonton being a one-line team reliant solely on McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. This 2025 squad is deep, balanced, and brimming with battle-hardened resolve.

If past playoff runs were about gaining experience, this run is about applying it. The Oilers have taken their lumps over the years—losing in the Western Conference Finals in 2022, a second-round exit in 2023, and a hard-fought first-round series win in 2024 before bowing out in six.

But those scars forged steel.

General Manager Ken Holland made shrewd off-season moves to bolster Edmonton’s roster. He brought in grit with the acquisition of shutdown forward Adam Henrique. He solidified the blue line by acquiring Mattias Ekholm, who has provided veteran presence and defensive stability. And perhaps most importantly, he doubled down on the goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard—both of whom have played pivotal roles in keeping the team poised through turbulence.

“We knew we had the talent,” said Coach Kris Knoblauch. “This year, we made sure we had the structure, the depth, and the mindset to go the distance.”

That structure has translated into results. Edmonton finished the regular season with 52 wins and claimed the Pacific Division title. Their power play led the league at a jaw-dropping 31.2% efficiency. But more impressively, they finished top-five in penalty kill percentage and goals-against average—an area that previously plagued them.

While McDavid garners headlines, the Oilers’ one-two punch with Leon Draisaitl remains the NHL’s most lethal combination. Draisaitl’s blend of strength, vision, and uncanny ability to finish in traffic has made him nearly impossible to contain.

The German-born superstar finished the regular season with 110 points, marking his fifth straight 100-point season. But in the playoffs, Draisaitl becomes an even scarier proposition for opponents. Through the first two rounds, he’s been averaging 1.5 points per game, scoring key goals and anchoring a second line that has devastated mismatches.

“Connor gets you dancing. Leon finishes the job,” said NHL analyst Kevin Bieksa. “Together, they’re unstoppable.”

Beyond the offensive numbers, Draisaitl’s maturity has become a cornerstone for the team. He’s taken defensive zone draws, mentored younger players like Dylan Holloway and Xavier Bourgault, and stepped up in the clutch when needed most.

The most glaring difference between this year’s Oilers and previous iterations is their bottom-six contribution. Players like Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, and Corey Perry have all carved out vital roles. Whether it’s grinding out penalty kills, winning key faceoffs, or delivering timely goals, the entire lineup has bought in.

Veteran presence from players like Perry—who knows what it takes to win in the postseason—has also helped steady the ship when adversity strikes. His physical edge and savvy leadership have made him a locker room favorite and a playoff X-factor.

Then there’s Zach Hyman—perhaps the NHL’s most underappreciated warrior. With 47 goals during the regular season and countless clutch plays in the playoffs, Hyman is the engine that makes the McDavid line hum.

“He does all the dirty work so we can shine,” McDavid once said. “We don’t win without him.”

Ekholm has been monumental, but Evan Bouchard has taken the leap into stardom. A power play quarterback with a cannon from the point, Bouchard has amassed 14 points through the first two playoff rounds. His chemistry with McDavid and Draisaitl on the man advantage has turned Edmonton’s power play into a nightmare.

Alongside him, Nurse continues to be a physical presence, while Brett Kulak and Cody Ceci have provided reliable minutes on the back end. Vincent Desharnais, at 6’6”, brings the kind of intimidation few bottom-pair defenders can.

Together, the group is holding opponents to under 2.4 goals per game this postseason—championship-caliber defense.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner has silenced all doubters. After a rocky postseason last year that led to widespread skepticism, the 26-year-old has responded with poise and excellence. He’s posted a .921 save percentage and two shutouts through the first two playoff rounds.

He’s no longer the liability. He’s the last line of trust.

“Stu’s been our rock,” said Ekholm. “You don’t win playoff series without your goalie stealing a game or two. He’s done that and more.”

Calvin Pickard has also stepped in when needed, showcasing a calm demeanor that keeps the locker room steady.

Hockey in Edmonton has always been more than just a sport. It’s an identity. A tradition rooted in the days of Gretzky, Messier, and the glory run of the ’80s dynasty. And now, with each playoff win, that fire reignites.

Rogers Place has become a fortress. The sea of orange and blue, the passionate chants, the tears of fans who’ve waited decades—this playoff run is about more than just the players. It’s about a city rising together.

Local businesses are booming, schools have “Oilers Spirit Days,” and murals of McDavid now sit alongside those of Gretzky. The comparisons are no longer far-fetched. They are embraced.

“We’re not running from history,” McDavid said. “We’re chasing it.”

As Edmonton awaits its Western Conference Final opponent, the mission remains the same: four more wins to reach the Stanley Cup Final. Eight more wins to finish the job.

Potential matchups against battle-hardened foes like the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars promise drama, intensity, and elite competition. But unlike in previous years, this Oilers team is not intimidated.

They’re not just hoping to win—they expect to.

The narrative of Connor McDavid being the best player never to win a Cup is hanging by a thread. And if the Oilers continue at this pace, it might never be spoken again.

There’s a feeling around the team. A confidence. A hunger. A sense of destiny.

Not since 2006 have the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Final. Not since 1990 have they hoisted the Cup.

But now, with McDavid at the peak of his powers, Draisaitl delivering nightly masterpieces, and a complete team bought into the cause, the Oilers are done waiting.