Connor McDavid Injury Scare Ahead of Stanley Cup Finals—But Oilers Say He’s Ready to Go
Back in 2016, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said it best: “Everybody’s had a game plan for this young man. It’s not working, it’s not going to work for the rest of his career.” He was speaking about Connor McDavid, a player who would later become his greatest obstacle to lifting the Stanley Cup. That foresight is now haunting Maurice once again, as McDavid leads the Edmonton Oilers into a high-stakes rematch against the Panthers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals.
“No issues. He will be ready for Game 1,” Knoblauch on McDavid who skated briefly today and left.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) June 1, 2025
The finals begin June 5, and a wave of concern briefly swept through the Oilers fanbase when reports emerged of McDavid leaving practice early after a brief skate. Jason Gregor, host of Sports 1440, had tweeted, “McDavid was on the ice briefly today. After about 10 minutes he left after speaking with trainers. Rest of team skated another 30 minutes.” That update immediately raised alarms—but they were quickly settled.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch reassured fans shortly after: “No issues. He will be ready for Game 1.” While the momentary uncertainty may have given Florida fans a flicker of hope, McDavid’s return to full strength means the Panthers will have to face the full force of Edmonton’s offensive machine.
McDavid has been electric in the 2025 playoffs. With 20 assists and 26 points, he leads all players, barely ahead of teammate Leon Draisaitl (25 points) and significantly clear of Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (17 points). His playmaking brilliance was on full display as he helped clinch the Western Conference title, registering his 100th career playoff assist in just his 90th postseason game—second only to Wayne Gretzky’s 70.
The Oilers captain also crossed the 100-point mark in the regular season (26 goals, 74 assists), but the only number that truly matters now is 4—the number of wins it takes to secure the Stanley Cup. Last year, McDavid’s Oilers pushed the Panthers to Game 7, only to fall short 2-1 in the final. Despite scoring 3 goals and providing 8 assists in that series, McDavid went quiet in the decisive game.
Now, with a healthy lineup and momentum behind them, Edmonton is ready for redemption. The Panthers, reigning champions, are chasing back-to-back titles—but this time, they’ll have to deny a McDavid who’s not just determined, but in record-setting form.
The question is no longer whether McDavid is great. It’s whether greatness can finally deliver the Cup to Edmonton.