Leon Draisaitl’s beautiful message to Connor McDavid after Oilers’ Game 7 heartbreak

The Edmonton Oilers’ attempt to come back from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final failed with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7, and despite the loss, Connor McDavid still left with the Conn. Smythe for his efforts in these playoffs. Widely considered the best player in the NHL, McDavid received praise from teammate Leon Draisaitl after the game.

“He’s the greatest player I’ve ever played in my opinion,” Leon Draisaitl said, via Derek Van Diest of NHL.com. “There are so many things people don’t see. He almost single-handedly transformed our franchise. I love sharing ice cream with him and he is a truly special person.

That’s a big statement, but Connor McDavid could one day become the best. For many, he will have to win a Stanley Cup for the Oilers during his career to be considered. Coming off a 3-0 comeback would have been a huge plus for McDavid’s legacy, but ultimately, it wasn’t meant to be. There will likely still be plenty of chances for McDavid to win that first Stanley Cup.

Connor McDavid’s playoff performance for the Oilers should be remembered

Still, a playoff run that included eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points in just 25 games is legendary and deserves recognition. It’s hard to deny that he deserves the Conn Smythe, even if he’s on the losing side. Draisaitl talked about how McDavid probably feels about receiving the Conn Smythe Award.

“I don’t think he cares,” Draisaidl said via Van Diest. “It shows what an amazing hockey player he is. There is no player in the world who wants to win a Stanley Cup more than him, and he does everything it takes every day to one day win it. It’s hard, especially when he’s sad and disappointed.

Draisaitl had a quiet series, recording just three assists and scoring no goals. It was a disappointing series for him, and he could have made a difference if he had produced more offense.

As for McDavid’s career playoff performance, no one can say he didn’t show up. He played in 74 games, scoring 37 goals and 80 assists for 117 points, according to NHL.com. If he continues to perform at this level in the playoffs, it would be a surprise if McDavid doesn’t add at least one Stanley Cup to his resume.

McDavid said it was an honor to host Conn Smythe, and he thanked the Panthers for their excellent defense.

“We knew it was going to be close, Game 7 for the Cup,” McDavid said via Van Diest. “We knew it was going to be a very close game and it would come down to one thing here or there. We’re an inch away from taking a 2-1 lead before they go up 2-1. It’s hard. They do a good job closing things down and we got our look. We just didn’t find it.

The Oilers should look very similar for next season, and it will be interesting to see if McDavid can add his first Stanley Cup after coming so close this time around.