The Edmonton Oilers are trying to move on from losing back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. Edmonton has represented the Western Conference in the Final over the last two years. And each year, they lost to the Florida Panthers. Edmonton came within a goal of the Cup in 2024, only to lose.
Edmonton’s run to the Final is certainly something to behold. For instance, they are the first Western Conference team to make consecutive Finals since 2009. The Detroit Red Wings, who played in the West at the time, won the Cup in 2008 and lost in 2009, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins each time.
The Red Wings, of course, are now in the East. Of teams currently in the Western Conference, you have to go back further. Before Edmonton, the last West team to make two straight Finals was the Dallas Stars in 1999 and 2000.
Coming so close only to lose, though, certainly stings. But it’s also hard to ignore how much Edmonton has accomplished over the last two seasons. Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse recently opened up about his experience struggling between the success and the defeat they’ve experienced.
“The disappointment probably weighs a little heavier,” Nurse said, via Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, “because that’s how you go into the summer, right? It’s that last result you take into the summer.
“With that said, you’ve always got to zoom out and see that there is obviously progress. Going to the Cup Final two years in a row, that’s progress. But it stinks, you know? It stinks, and it sits with you.”
Darnell Nurse Sees Another Level For Oilers
Leila Devlin/Getty ImagesDarnell Nurse has played a role in Edmonton’s consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final.
It certainly can be considered progress to make the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive seasons. It’s not a feat many teams in the history in the league can stake a claim to. It’s the sort of thing general managers dream of when they talk about building “sustainable success.”
Success like this can certainly feel like the peak for many teams. However, Nurse pointed out that this is not the case. The Oilers still have to finish the job in the Stanley Cup Final. And he believes they have the ability to do it.
“We do a pretty good job using it as motivation,” Nurse said, via Spector. “Yeah, we did get there two years in a row. But obviously there’s another level that we can go up, because you didn’t do the job.”
Edmonton Facing Pressure To Win Now
The Oilers have a very talented team, lead by the two best players in the NHL. Add in a young defenseman who already has a claim for being one of the best playoff producers among defensemen in league history, and it feels like this can go on forever.
Unfortunately, this may not be the case. Edmonton captain Connor McDavid is a free agent at the end of this season. If he doesn’t re-sign, this is a significant blow to the team. And it’s not a blow this team can easily replace, no matter how much cap space his departure would leave them.
Having McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same roster is a major coup. Having both of them and losing one to free agency without winning a Stanley Cup would be a massive disappointment. It will certainly be interesting to see how Nurse and his teammates respond to the pressure this upcoming season.
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