Tkachuk says McDavid ‘will win a Cup someday, wherever it is’

Matthew Tkachuk says Connor McDavid will win a Stanley Cup someday. It just might be with another team.

The Florida Panthers’ star, fresh off of winning his second of back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, spoke with reporters after the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Tkachuk says that at some point, McDavid will win hockey’s holy grail.

“When you have a player that good and that talented, he’s going to win (the Stanley Cup) one day. Wherever it is,” Tkachuk said.

The comment comes as McDavid now has one year remaining on the eight-year, $100-million contract he signed in July 2017. He will be eligible for an extension on July 1.

Tkachuk finished the postseason with eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 23 games. It has been an impressive three-year stretch in the playoffs for the 27-year-old winger, who has scored 25 goals and 44 assists for 69 points, leading the Panthers to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances.

In 2024-25, Tkachuk, the 2016 No. 6 overall pick, has 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in 52 games. He now has 240 goals and 396 assists for 636 points in 642 career regular-season games.

As for McDavid, 28, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick now has 15 goals and 60 assists for 75 points in the last two playoff seasons. Last season, he had eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing effort.

During the regular season, McDavid had 26 goals and 74 assists for 100 points in 67 regular-season games. In 712 career regular-season games, he has 361 goals and 721 assists for 1,082 points.