The Edmonton Oilers have not won the Stanley Cup since 1990. Kelly Buchberger was on that team and he remembers it like it was yesterday.
At the time, the Alberta roster had a point guard named Mark Messier. A few years earlier, with Wayne Gretzky as captain, he had won the precious trophy for the first time. Two leading models.
“I was fortunate to play with the Oilers very early in my career,” said Kelly Buchberger. We had great leaders like Wayne and Mark.
“However, it took everyone’s leadership for us to win. Whether in the dressing room or on the ice. If everyone sets a good example, you have a good chance of winning.”
Messier and Gretzky didn’t need to make big speeches to motivate their squad before games.
“They were present in the dressing room. As they jumped onto the ice, they spoke out loud with their actions. They started their messages with important games.
We must not forget an important aspect. These two great players had Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Esa Tikkanen, Kevin Lowe and Craig MacTavish backing them with the rest of the team. The Core Oilers were in a class of their own.
The window is open
The odds that the current edition of the Oilers will end Canada’s long losing streak are real, Buchberger said.
“It’s hard to win the Stanley Cup. They would have the same chances as the other formations, he said. It would be amazing for the city of Edmonton. Fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time. They are just as passionate as those in Montreal.”
With the salary cap era, teams have a two or three year window to win the Stanley Cup. The Oilers’ opened last year.
“They have to win now, especially with the presence of generation players [McDavid et Draisaitl] within their education. I’m not following the team, but I’m sure there’s a lot of pressure on their shoulders.
In his opinion, every franchise player must learn to win before they can lift the trophy.
“There is a learning curve. Whether it was Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane, they had to pay the price for a few seasons.
“They needed a few veterans to show them the recipe for winning teams. The Oilers have certainly learned from their past mistakes and this could be their moment [de gagner la Coupe Stanley] This year.”
Good team on paper
Buchberger believes the Oilers have a good team on paper.
“They have a good goalkeeper [Stuart] Skinner, solid defense, and adding depth to their offense, he analyzed. They can also respond to aggressive play with guys like Evander Kane.
“They usually have two players [Connor McDavid et Leon Draisaitl] drive the team bus.
To be successful in the playoffs, the recipe is not that complicated.
“Everyone has to keep up with the plan. It’s not the business of one or two people being singled out when things aren’t going well. All players must assume their role each night.
In the notebook
Raymond Bourque is the best player Kelly Buchberger has faced in the playoffs. “We played against Boston in 1990 and he was incredible. Even though he played more than 30 minutes a game, he kept challenging you. If you played him, you had to be at your best.”