There’s Always Next Year

It didn’t happen for McDavid in his first trip to the final. But he’s not the first superstar to fall short on his first try – and it’s a good bet he’ll back for another shot

WITH RYAN KENNEDY

THERE’S A STORY WAYNE Gretzky has told over the years about the first time he and the Edmonton Oilers got to the Stanley Cup final. The year was 1983, and those firewagon Oilers had blazed a path to the final series, where they faced the three-time reigning Cup champions, the New York Islanders. As you may know, those Islanders quickly became the four-time champions, sweeping Edmonton in that final to cement the Long Island dynasty led by Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith and a host of others. And the story Gretzky tells is informative: No. 99 recalls walking out of the arena with Kevin Lowe and Mark Messier, on a path that necessitated going right past the Islanders’ dressing room. The young Oilers girded themselves for what they expected…

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The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Champions Issue 2024

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