The confetti has settled from the Florida Panthers’ second straight Stanley Cup victory, but the questions for the Edmonton Oilers are just beginning.
While the Oilers focus on keeping a frustrated Connor McDavid, whose recent public comments offer little encouragement, one of the Panthers who beat them has revealed exactly how Edmonton orchestrated its own downfall.
Why Did the Oilers Lose the 2025 Stanley Cup Final?
Following the Panthers’ 2025 championship, Matthew Tkachuk suggested the Oilers were a “one-man show” that couldn’t compete with Florida’s team effort. Now, Tkachuk’s teammate, forward Evan Rodrigues, has offered his own theory on Edmonton’s collapse.
Rodrigues, a key player in Florida’s recent success, has been the subject of trade rumors. However, the team seems unlikely to move him as it tries to keep its championship roster together and build a dynasty.
“The answer teams got when they called the Panthers about someone like Rodrigues was that they weren’t really interested in moving him,” reported Frank Seravalli.
When Did the Panthers Know They Had the Series Won?
The forward recently appeared on the “Empty Netters” podcast to discuss the Oilers’ devastating loss to the Panthers for the second consecutive year. As a veteran on two Stanley Cup-winning rosters, Rodrigues explained that Florida was confident it could keep the Cup in South Florida.
“I think we knew we were the better team in our minds,” he said. “Obviously, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, that’s the scary thing. There’s no stopping them, it’s containing them.”
Rodrigues pointed to the Oilers’ reaction after winning the first game as a key moment. While Edmonton celebrated, the Panthers stayed locked in, understanding the long series ahead.
“So we lose Game 1, and they were riding high, and we felt like their celebration post-game was a little early, per se,” Rodrigues explained. “They were really fired up. We knew it was a long series. Game 2 was the one we knew we had to win.”
According to the forward, that second game was the true turning point for the Panthers.
“After we won Game 2, we got in the locker room, and that’s when we kinda knew we had it,” he said. “Because they had just played eight periods and those two had just played I don’t know how many minutes.”
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With these comments from Tkachuk and Rodrigues, it appears the Panthers’ chemistry and mental toughness gave them a significant advantage over Edmonton. It remains to be seen if the Oilers can change the narrative in the upcoming season. McDavid remains unsigned, but the buzz around Edmonton seems to believe this deal will get done.
Meanwhile, in Florida, the Panthers seem to be reloading and beginning their attempt at a Stanley Cup “three-peat,” a feat that hasn’t been achieved since the Islanders won four straight from 1980 to 1984.
