Game 7 Legacies & Heartbreak with Kris Versteeg | JD Bunkis Podcast

Kris Versteeg, two-time Stanley Cup Champion, joins JD Bunkis to detail why Game 7 didn't go the Oilers' way, the depth players that vaulted Edmonton to the finals, Connor McDavid's decision to not come back onto the ice to accept the Conn Smythe Trophy, Matthew Tkachuk's legacy and Paul Maurice's triumph.
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#NHL #Hockey #StanleyCupFinal #Oilers #Panthers

[@areejo840907]

It's weird how people say that Barkov isn't underrated anymore but he not winning the Conn Smythe Trophy kinda underlines the fact that he still is.

[@chevelle1]

Excellent points about it being more than 97. It’s nice to hear some real commentary that isn’t the lazy, obvious, convenient narratives that most hockey media do that McDavid was doing it all. Great break downs guys.

[@wbj2000]

Congratulations to the Florida Panthers. Deserving champions!! Both teams were really beat up ... but none of them had a headache. 🤣🤣 Bob was the best player of the series .. he took down the Oilers 4 times.

[@yiordanni]

I also believe that it should have gone to Barkov. I had a feeling it was going to 97 and I understand the reasoning for it, I also don’t think he has to come out to receive it and respect him not coming out actually. But records aside, as a true MOST VALUABLE player for their team’s playoff run and helping them win the cup, Barkov literally neutralized each team’s “stars” that he faced. Kucherov, Pasta, Panarin and Zinbanejad were NON EXISTENT, and then he basically shut down the greatest player in the game today for at the very least the four games it took to win. IMO, that’s a playoff MVP.

[@Carsonthestreet]

McDavid has generated enough revenue for the league, he doesn’t owe it to the league to claim his trophy if he didn’t want to. He was with his teammates and I think we can all respect that it was a good leadership decision to make that move

[@angelaa.9915]

Finally, the truth! Barkov deserved that Conn Smythe because of his playoff performance AND he was on the winning team.

[@casewojo6186]

Edmonton fans were so over confident after game 6. They deserve every speckle of heart break. Trash talking before the result is never smart. On the other hand GO PANTHERS!! STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!

[@korbendallas7181]

Canadian fans deserve no Cups, as they hate growing the game in America. Sad really. At the end of the day, the better Team won this one! Congrats Panthers! .... *Go Stars!*

[@Iconoclastab]

Comparing a potential FL loss to the Falcons? Not the 1990's Buffalo Bills losing 4 straight super bowls?

[@shytcardz]

A really horrible take on giving someone else the Conn Smyth because the winner didn't come out to receive it. Should he have he come out? Maybe? but you don't give it to someone else.

[@crazyedswonderfulworldofso9370]

If McDavid wants to pout, he should be taught a lesson. If he devalues and/or despises the Conn Smythe trophy and the history of all who have won it that much, that he can’t be gracious enough to accept it, he should be stripped of it and all record of him ever having won it should be expunged. It should go to the next player who garnered the highest amount of votes. We have coddled these sports “prima donnas” and enabled them far too much. We have condoned their tantrums for too long. Poor little rich boy, didn’t get his way, maybe we should give him the Stanley Cup!!! Grow up!

[@Carsonthestreet]

McDavid has generated so much revenue for the league -he doesn’t owe it to anybody to act the way fans think he should act. He’s the captain and he chose to be with his team

[@HassanElmi]

State of Florida - 5 straight Stanley cup finals - 3 cups. We are having a great run 🥳🥳🥳

[@shytcardz]

Most of the fans in Florida were waiting for the 4th quarter when the game was over. 😆

[@HassanElmi]

@@shytcardz Nice try but they experienced 4 Stanley cup finals before this one 😉

[@shytcardz]

"Do we throw the rats now?" "Not yet, Sweety. After the fourth quarter." Just having a bit of fun. 😜

[@shtanna]

7 cup finals in 20 years is nothing to sneeze at for sure! The most of any State/Province.

[@edobkin]

Really, Bunkis? Half Oilers fans? Come on.

[@Capo51]

It was the first goal of Florida, which erased away the pre-game momentum of Oil. If they had shooted the first goal, the momentum would have continued. And it would have been a different game. Now the pressure moved mentally to Oilers, although they soon scored So Verhaege's goal gave belief for Panthers team, that they can win the game. Against the odds= pre game expectations. . Period.

[@Michael-pg7rv]

I love Tkachuk but he was a shell of himself in the cup final and was carried by his teammates. He was probably battling an injury because not only was his offensive production not there but his intensity and physical game play and intimidation was completely absent the whole series.

[@jamiljohnson9766]

Kris is the coach of the year. In my opinion, Oilers fan will agree given Florida panthers a run for their money and for everything he did before that was clutch 😊

[@frankpropri540]

The Panthers when playing their best. Shut down anybody, including mcjesus.

[@gleng311]

I’m a Panthers fan. No problem with McDavid winning the Conn Smythe based on his performance over the entire playoffs. But it’s not a consistent metric. If it was, Bobrovski should have won it last year.

[@shytcardz]

McDavid with potential surgery with some abdominal injury and Draisitl with a broken rib and finger. I expected something like that to come out.

[@bobdobalini]

In other words, excuses. If your injured and it affects your play, thats even worse than not playing. But they get scared of someone that replaces them being the star.

[@shytcardz]

@@bobdobalini If you're injured...

[@Nanook6]

Couldn’t disagree with you more. He had zero obligation to go out and get that award. None.

[@HandShakeLineRespect]

Oilers fans deserved this outcome. Although a sweep would have been more ideal.

[@shytcardz]

I do think Florida played well... it was a bounce here or there. At the risk of sounding like someone who doesn't want to give them credit, I'm just reacting the the Barkov take. He played great, but I also think the way the game changes in the playoff plays right into his hands and generally the Panthers' hands. It's just a fact - the whistles go away, and the excuse behind that is that it's because the zebras don't want to affect the game. The irony behind that is that's exactly what they're doing... they're affecting the game when they put their whistles away. With that, the Oilers will have to change their roster to bring in less offensive skill and more "dump and forcheck" and clog the neutral zone. I, personally, would rather not watch that kind of boring hockey for 82+ games.