Tuesday night saw the Panthers clinch the Stanley Cup Final in a 5-1 win. Sam Reinhart’s four goals scored in game six matched Maurice Richard’s record set back in 1957 for a Stanley Cup Final record. Sam Bennett took home the year’s Conn Smyth Trophy as a result of having a league-leading 15 postseason goals.
But just one year ago, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in a losing effort. McDavid still has another year remaining on his current contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
After winning his second straight Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk commended McDavid. Though it’s tough to see the star not in an Oilers uniform, many have speculated about his future. To little shock, Tkachuk fanned those flames on Tuesday night.
Matthew Tkachuk’s Praise of Connor McDavid: A Jab in Disguise?
The Oilers have now watched the Panthers hoist the Cup two years in a row while falling just short. But that’s not to say the Edmonton-based team does not deserve recognition, at least according to Tkachuk.
“When you have a player that good and that talented, he’s going to win [the Stanley Cup] one day. Wherever it is,” Tkachuk said postgame.
Matthew Tkachuk on Connor McDavid: “When you have a player that good and that talented, he’s going to win (the Stanley Cup) one day. Wherever it is.”
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 18, 2025
The quote quickly made waves on social media. For many fans, especially those of the Oilers, it was nothing more than a backhanded compliment. It was equivalent to rubbing salt into the wounds of a team that had just been defeated after several months of gruelling practice and effort.
Tkachuk’s insinuation that McDavid has a better shot of winning the Stanley Cup in association with other teams was not lost on X users, who immediately flooded the comment section.
One user put it straight: Tkachuk’s comment was a simple ragebait.
ragebaiter https://t.co/Wn2eJWW4az
— blob(depressed pels fan) (@mvpkingram) June 18, 2025
Clearly, the fans were agitated. A comment like Tkachuk’s, right after a defeat, is undoubtedly challenging to digest. An X user pointed out the forward’s proclivity for trolling. “Unable to not troll. What a backhanded remark”.
Yet another pointed out the obvious. Tkachuk was trying to imply that McDavid was better off elsewhere, with the Panthers, perhaps?
“Hes recruiting him ffs.”
But not everyone thought of the whole scenario of McDavid joining the ranks of the Panthers negatively. Some were on board: “Bennet goes somewhere with 10-12 mil and there is then 3rd center position open when Lundell goes to 2nd. McDavid would be great 3rd center!”
Bennet goes somewhere with 10-12 mil and there is then 3rd center position open when Lundell goes to 2nd. McDavid would be great 3rd center!
— Aki Nieminen (@aki_nieminen) June 18, 2025
Were Tkachuk’s words, in reality, smeared with sarcasm, or could he have unintentionally provided the Oilers captain with some food for thought?
While McDavid and Leon Draisaitl led all scorers with 33 points each, the next-highest Oilers player finished with 23 points last year. In other words, McDavid and Draisaitl weren’t producing as much because neither had a point in a 5-1 loss in Game 6 on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Tkachuk finished the 2024-25 NHL playoffs with 23 points across eight goals and 15 assists. Tkachuk also implied that while teams like Edmonton rely on a few players, the Panthers rely on everyone.
“I just think the difference with our team and their team is from my vantage point … and it might not be true … it just seemed that when things got tough and hard, everyone looked to him to be able to do it all himself,” said Tkachuk. “It’s just so hard to do that. And you can’t do that.
Will the Oilers be able to reemerge after a second consecutive defeat?
