EDMONTON -- Connor McDavid was asked if the Edmonton Oilers had to lose in the Stanley Cup Final before they could win a championship.

"If you asked me this question last year, I'd probably say no. Now that we've lost, I'll say, 'Yeah, of course you've got to lose before you win,'" the Oilers captain said, drawing a laugh at media day.

McDavid and the Oilers won the Western Conference and earned a Stanley Cup Final rematch with the Florida Panthers , who defeated Edmonton in Game 7 last season after blowing a 3-0 series lead. McDavid was crushed by the defeat. Being named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP was of little consolation. So getting another chance to win the Cup was his solitary focus entering this season.

"I went to see him in the summer and all he ta

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