How the Oilers Will End Canada’s Stanley Cup Drought

The drought has been painful for Canadian hockey fans – 32 long years since they’ve seen one of their teams hoist the Stanley Cup.

The last time it happened? 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens defeated Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings.

To put that in perspective: Jurassic Park was terrifying moviegoers, Janet Jackson topped the charts, and the Blue Jays were baseball’s defending champs. The PDF file format had just been invented, if you can believe it.

Since then, it’s been nothing but heartbreak.

Seven Canadian teams have made it to the Finals, and every single one has fallen short. The Vancouver Canucks tried twice (1994 and 2011). The Calgary Flames came close in 2004. Edmonton had their shot in 2006. The Ottawa Senators gave it their best in 2007. Even Montreal, trying to recapture their ’93 magic, couldn’t get it done in 2021.

It’s become more than just another sports stat. For Canadian fans, it’s a yearly wound that reopens every spring.

But this year? Something feels different.

The Edmonton Oilers just steamrolled the Dallas Stars 4-1 in the Western Conference Final, and they’re looking stronger than ever. Connor McDavid is playing like a man possessed, and this Oilers squad has more depth and determination than their 2006 team.

Could this finally be the year Canada brings the Cup home?