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Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers' captain, has acknowledged the harsh lesson he learned from last year's Stanley Cup Final defeat. Reflecting on that painful loss, McDavid conceded, "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,'" a statement that brought some humor to a media day filled with anticipation.

This season, McDavid and the Oilers triumphed in the Western Conference, setting the stage for a fiercely awaited rematch with the Florida Panthers. The loss to the Panthers in Game 7 of the previous final, especially after the Oilers held a 3-0 series lead, has been a driving force for McDavid. Despite his individual achievement of winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, the sting of defeat overshadowed any personal accolades.

Oilers GM Stan Bowman, who took over from Ken Holland last offseason, attested to McDavid's unwavering focus. "I went to see him in the summer and all he talked about was, 'I just want to win a Cup.' That was it. We didn't talk about anything else. This is his singular focus," Bowman said.

Praising McDavid's exceptional skills and determination, Bowman remarked, "He's accomplished everything he could accomplish individually in this sport. He continues to dazzle us every game. You run out of superlatives to talk about him as a player. You could see how badly he wanted it last year when it didn't go Edmonton's way in Game 7. Right now, he's on a mission."

In the current Stanley Cup playoffs, McDavid leads the pack with an impressive 26 points in 16 games, including a remarkable 20 assists. His performance in the Western Conference finals was particularly notable, amassing nine points in the Oilers' five-game victory over the Dallas Stars.

Describing McDavid's competitive spirit, his linemate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said, "He's just the ultracompetitor who wants to win so badly. The more experience you have, the easier it is to kind of settle in and play your game. I think just having a little bit more experience last year helps us."

As McDavid embarks on his second Stanley Cup Final, he feels more prepared and focused. "It's different in the sense that it feels less big, you know? Last year felt monumental. Very dramatic. This year feels very normal," he explained. "It's easier to play and function when it's just another day."

McDavid emphasized the importance of maintaining focus amidst the high stakes, stating, "I would say it's just dealing with the emotion of it [better]. There's a big circus. It can feel like it's larger than it is, but at the end of the day it's another series. We're playing another great team and you've got to beat them before anything else happens. So they have our complete focus."

With one goal in sight, McDavid concluded, "All of our energy is going into beating the Florida Panthers. There should be nothing else on anyone's mind."