We’ll preface this with pure honesty from deep in our hockey hearts. When the second round ended, we were not totally on board with this inevitable rematch. We all saw how both the Oil and the Cats were looking, and still do; each forming themselves into hazy silhouettes that resemble the outline of fully gassed and sharpened buzzsaws. One of them looks like a heavy duty Western Canadian buzzsaw that thoroughly manicures a province where forest covers 60% of the land. And the other, a rusty set of multiple brands of buzzsaws that have been stolen and tossed into the wet salty cargo bay of an airboat built in 1993.

This should be enough to get anyone excited — the looming shadow of a heavyweight repeat between the two best teams in a 32 team league, right? Wrong, at least in my safe, insulated circle. No one I spoke to around as the conference finals were in motion thought this was exciting. Even my friend Ken who is a die hard Oiler fan. He said, “I hope we get Carolina, Florida will run out of gas any minute, it won't be good”. A wild take now, but somewhat reasonable considering most humans cannot continue to slam into everything for three calendar years and expect to have the energy to keep it up.

More snarky groans heard in my locker room:

“A rematch is boring, it’s the same thing we saw last year.”

“Florida’s fanbase ain’t it, they keep getting spoiled."

“Great, the Canadian team that’s had four first overall gifts in a row, including the best of this generation that can't seem to win?”

Well, now that we’re all set to roll it back, these reasons are actually making it sound pretty damn interesting, there's a new energy that’s come over me, let’s go.

Not to stat-check our lovely readers, but no team that’s made it to the final consecutively has lost since 1978, when the big bad Bruins lost it in seven and our guy Don Cherry subsequently got the axe from his head coaching position. And I know this may hurt some of you but the 70s were kind of a long ass time ago. I get this is one of those media guy combo records that get thrown around but it’s a little intriguing, especially considering a rematch has only happened 12 times in the history of the league.

As of today, the day we finally start this series, I’m convinced this could be best grand finale we could have hoped for. At least since 2019, and that one was GOOOD. We have, as mentioned, the best player in the league, playing alongside the best player in the league, ready for revenge against a bunch of psychos that are somehow led by a Lady Byng’er. This rules. We asked a couple of our confidants to weigh in on why they also think this rules.

Jonny Lazerus, NHL and Daily Faceoff:

I don't know if this Cup Final can possibly live up to what we saw last year; that would have been the greatest series comeback in the history of sports, in my opinion. 

That said, watching Connor McDavid try to get his first Cup again??? Who wouldn't want to to watch that. This Oilers team feels different. They're consistent, they defend, they have goaltending and now....they're mean.

Alex Sanschagrin, Crease Editor:

Initially, I was kinda bummed we were getting the same teams in the Cup Finals. I have since changed my tone. I don’t think I’ve seen McDavid smile all season – he is hungry and pissed. I am all in on the McDavid Revenge Tour. Florida is tough and gritty, and both rosters are stacked. This is going to be a war.

Other notes: an overview at the first rounders playing.

Florida (9): Ekblad - 2014 1st, Barkov - 2013 2nd, Reinhart - 2014 2nd, Seth Jones - 2013 4th OVR, Bennett - 2014 4th, Tkachuk - 2016 6th, Lundell - 2020 12th, Kulikov - 2009 14th, Samoskevich - 2021 24th.

Oilers (10): Nugent-Hopkins 2011 1st, McDavid - 2015 1st, Draisaitl - 2014 3rd, Skinner - 2010 7th, Nurse - 2013 7th, Bouchard - 2018 10th, Podkolzin - 2019 10th, Kapanen - 2014 22nd, Perry - 2003(!) 28th, Frederic - 2016 29th.

Build through the draft they say...