Who is the best active NHL player? The answer is clear in the eyes of many: That honor goes to Oilers captain Connor McDavid, and it’s a title he’s held for a number of seasons.
The No. 1 pick from 2015 has lived up to expectations and then some. McDavid puts up video game numbers year after year, always finding himself towards the top of the league leaderboard in goals, assists and points.
The former phenom is also one of the fastest skaters on the sheet. He has exceptional hands as well, and his vision in the playmaking department is absurd.
McDavid has racked up plenty of awards accolades in his career. But when it comes to an athlete’s legacy, championships hold more weight than any other prize. For McDavid, he still has work to do to build on his legacy in Edmonton and as a star in the NHL.
Here is what to know about McDavid and his playoff history.
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Has Connor McDavid won a Stanley Cup?
McDavid has not yet won a Stanley Cup in his NHL career, which started 10 seasons ago.
Edmonton failed to make the postseason in three of McDavid’s first four seasons. While the Oilers earned a postseason berth in each of the last five years, no Stanley Cup has come — but that could change soon. The Oilers came one win away from a championship in 2024, with McDavid still winning Conn Smythe honors.
Even though a championship ring has eluded McDavid, his trophy case is stocked with hardware. He has five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, three Hart Trophies and a Rocket Richard Trophy in addition to the Conn Smythe, but still no Stanley Cup.
MORE: Complete list of every Stanley Cup winner in history
Connor McDavid playoff history
McDavid didn’t win the Western Conference until 2024, when the Oilers secured their first of back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances.
Before 2024, he had just one appearance in the conference finals. That came in 2022, when the Oilers were swept in four games by the Avalanche, who went on to win the Stanley Cup against the Lightning.
MORE: When was the last time the Oilers won the Stanley Cup?
Here is a closer look at the team’s playoff history under McDavid.
| Year | Playoff Record | Result |
| 2017 | 7-6 | Lost in second round 4-3 vs. Ducks |
| 2020 | 1-3 | Lost in qualifying round 3-1 vs. Blackhawks |
| 2021 | 0-4 | Lost in first round 4-0 vs. Jets |
| 2022 | 8-8 | Lost in Western Conference Final 4-0 vs. Avalanche |
| 2023 | 6-6 | Lost in second round 4-2 vs. Golden Knights |
| 2024 | 15-10 | Lost in Stanley Cup Final 4-3 vs. Panthers |
| 2025 | 12-4 | TBD |
*Record heading into 2025 Stanley Cup Final
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How many Stanley Cups have the Oilers won?
In total, the Oilers have hoisted the Stanley Cup five times in the organization’s career — all in a span of seven seasons.
The club established itself as a dynasty in the 1980s. The Oilers’ first championship in 1983 marked the end of one dynasty and the start of another, with the team snapping the Islanders’ run of four consecutive championships.
Edmonton’s roster was built around seven future Hall of Famers — Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, Kevin Lowe and Grant Fuhr — for a majority of its run.
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The Oilers have played in a total of eight Stanley Cup Final series. The organization has a record of 5-3 in those series.
Here is a breakdown of Edmonton’s history in the Stanley Cup Final.
| Season | Opponent | Series | MVP |
| 1983 | New York Islanders | L, Islanders 4, Oilers 0 | Billy Smith (NYI) |
| 1984 | New York Islanders | W, Oilers 4, Islanders 1 | Mark Messier (EDM) |
| 1985 | Philadelphia Flyers | W, Oilers 4, Flyers 1 | Wayne Gretzky (EDM) |
| 1987 | Philadelphia Flyers | W, Oilers 4, Flyers 3 | Wayne Gretzky (EDM) |
| 1988 | Boston Bruins | W, Oilers 4, Bruins 0 | Wayne Gretzky (EDM) |
| 1990 | Boston Bruins | W, Oilers 4, Bruins 1 | Bill Ranford (EDM) |
| 2006 | Carolina Hurricanes | L, Hurricanes 4, Oilers 3 | Cam Ward (CAR) |
| 2024 | Florida Panthers | L, Panthers 4, Oilers 3 | Connor McDavid (EDM) |
