Welcome to Oilersnation’s top 15 stories of the year, where we count down the most-read stories you, the reader, clicked on in 2024.
Number 12 gave hockey fans everywhere an insight into one of the more controversial stories of the year: Connor McDavid decline to accept the Conn Smythe Trophy.
McDavid went on an incredible run in the playoffs, scoring eight goals, 34 assists and 42 points in 25 playoff games, setting the record for the most assists in a single playoffs, passing Wayne Gretzky. And when Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals ended with the Florida Panthers lifting Lord Stanley’s mug, McDavid was named Conn Smythe, but stayed in the Oilers dressing room.
A documentary filmed by Amazon Prime followed McDavid in the playoffs, and gave fans an inside look into his decision.
Here’s some of the article written about it, written by me:
As the players left the ice and went towards the locker room, the NHL’s chief content officer and executive vice president Steve Mayer, also an executive producer of the series, pulled McDavid aside, informing him he won the Conn Smythe.“They want me to go out there?” McDavid asked. “Yeah,” Mayer replied.Footage showed the pair talking further, but no other audio or context was provided about what was said. In an interview, McDavid said he wouldn’t have gone out to accept the trophy for anything.“We lost in the most heartbreaking way,” he said. “It was a moment that I’ll never forget, ever. Something that no Conn Smythe Trophy, no… I wouldn’t have gone out there for a million dollars.“There was a lot of pain in that room, a lot of uh… yeah. Like, I can’t even explain it to you… I don’t think the average fan or the average person understands, um, those moments. You’ve just gone through months and months and months of just like grinding and working, and all these ups and downs and peaks and valleys.”
While some were up in arms about McDavid’s decision, how could one blame him? He’s spoken candidly about there being one trophy he wants to win — the Stanley Cup — and that everything else isn’t as important. For that, it’s no surprise he chose the route that he did, sticking with his brothers in the locker room instead of stepping into the limelight.
Top 15 articles of 2024
- No. 15: Corey Perry, Evander Kane exchange words on the bench
- No. 14: Oilersnation pranks fans by saying Ken Holland signed extension
- No. 13: Adding Corey Perry “changes the outlook” of Oilers’ trade deadline, could “open the door” for Jack Campbell move
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
This article is presented by Deloitte Canada
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