Cameras caught the heartbreaking moments of a devastated Edmonton Oilers locker room following their 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
The Edmonton Oilers nearly pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in professional sports, erasing a 3-0 series deficit to force a Game 7 winner-take-all contest in Sunrise. But Edmonton fell short 2-1 in the heart-racing contest, failing to win their first Stanley Cup since 1990.
“The Drop” on OilersPlus.com shared a one-minute video of a crushed and silent Oilers locker room minutes after the gut-wrenching defeat. Let’s just say that when it comes to the world of sports, you won’t find many sadder videos than this:
Raw emotions in the Oilers locker room following their Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final.
🎥: The Drop on Oilers+ pic.twitter.com/atiWxp1xU2
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 9, 2024
Losing in the Stanley Cup Final is tough enough as is. But to make such an epic comeback from 3-0 down, only to fall two goals short of winning your ultimate dream? It’s indeed a bitter pill for Edmonton to swallow.
It’s day three of posting one Leon Draisaitl goal until he signs his extension.
Throwback to when he fixed the net and sniped one top shelf against the Winnipeg Jets.
Video Credit: @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/vqkr9nimJV
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) August 9, 2024
The loss is especially tough for Oilers fans to stomach because they don’t know the future for franchise cornerstones Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The captain is only under contract for two more years, and Draisaitl has yet to sign an extension as he heads into the final year of his deal.
Edmonton Oilers Have (At Least) One More Run With This Core
The worst-case scenario for Oilers fans is that both McDavid and Draisaitl lose. That’s obviously unlikely, and the chances remain high that both players will commit to staying in Edmonton long-term.
Even if Draisaitl were to leave next year, the 2024-25 Oilers still promise to be top contender for the Stanley Cup. They’re bringing back the same core of players plus capable 30-goal scorers Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, who were picked up on bargain deals in free agency.
Edmonton opens their 2024-25 season with a home tilt against the Winnipeg Jets On Oct. 9.
