The Edmonton Oilers assess the task ahead of them

Published Jun 02, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 minute read

linesman Jonny Murray (95) drops the puck as Florida Panthers centre Aleksander Barkov, left, and Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid (97) face off during the third period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. Photo by Wilfredo Lee /AP Photo

No ice session today…

Article content

So, in the absence of that, notable comments from a “media day” for the Edmonton Oilers, ahead of the Stanley Cup Finals and Game One on Wednesday.

–Connor McDavid left practice early yesterday after talking with the trainers. Kris Knoblauch says the Captain will be a full participant in tomorrow’s practice. So, it seems to be much ado about nothing. Knoblauch: “Yeah, no, Connor will be out there (tomorrow)”. On another injury front, Knoblauch confirmed that Connor Brown will return to the lineup for Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals. Knoblauch: “I think he adds a lot of elements to our team. Obviously on the penalty kill we need him a lot. You know, his speed, his checking, he has provided some nice offence throughout the season”. Brown has been in concussion protocol. Who may come out in order to make room for the speedy winger is not clear.

Advertisement 2

Article content

-Jeff Skinner, on opportunity and the TCF: “It’ll be exciting. This is the goal every year. Every team has the same goal. You get this close, you wanna put your best foot forward”. Skinner came into Game Five after injuries to Hyman and Brown and scored in just his second career NHL post-season game.

-Florida’s Aleksander Barkov won the Franke Selke Award this morning, as the league’s best defensive forward. There is little doubt about Barkov’s ability in this area. He is a most deserving winner. Good to see that Leon Draisaitl starting to get more recognition for the quality of his two-way play. He finished Number six in the balloting.

-Head Coach Kris Knoblauch, on the approach to The Finals this year: “We have a different mood. Last year, we did not know what to expect. The biggest change is we have been here before. We know what to expect. We’ve seen this team before. We’re accustomed to it”.

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

-Evander Kane, on Zach Hyman’s injury: “Zach’s a huge part of our team. He’s a great asset to any team. But we did a great job in Game Five against Dallas. We have a lot more depth throughout the entirety of our lineup. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to use that depth and get the job done without him”. He added “Really excited to get going on Wednesday”.

-Darnell Nurse, on returning to the finals: “It’s exciting. The objective is to get to this point…there’s a lot more work to do. There’s a sense of calm within our group having gone through this scenario last year. Fort us and for our group, I know it’s definitely a different feeling than going in last year”.

-Mattias Ekholm, on maturity: “”We’re more experienced with that run (last year). Not a lot of guys had been that far in the playoffs before. Just to have that, to be calm with that”. Knoblauch, on Ekholm: “His first game he exceeded expectations. You never know what you’re going to get from a player coming back from injury”.

Advertisement 4

Article content

Now on Bluesky @kurtleavins.bsky.social. Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social. This article is not AI generated.