How important is experience at key moments?
That’s the million-dollar question facing both teams in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
The Edmonton Oilers are in the finals for the first time since 2006 but haven’t won since 1990. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers made it to the finals last year but missed out on their first championship.
Is Florida better equipped to win this time around because of last season’s experience? Not necessarily, according to Oilers coach Chris Knobloch.
On Tuesday, when answering a question about the experience factor, Knobloch was relentless in his criticism of the Buffalo Bills.
“Yeah, experience is a good thing,” Knobloch said. “I don’t know how much experience helps. Just ask the Buffalo Bills how important Super Bowl experience is.”
“I think the biggest thing is to play with confidence. When guys are playing at their best, they have to be confident.”
Of course, the Bills went to four straight Super Bowls from 1991-1994, but lost all four.
Since then, Buffalo still has yet to win a Lombardi Trophy, and the current Josh Allen era, while promising, has yet to produce results.
Meanwhile, Edmonton has a chance to end another drought: A Canadian NHL team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup in 31 years.
The last time Montreal beat the Los Angeles Kings was in 1993. The Canadiens did it in five games.
But if the Oilers don’t have success this season, the Bills may have a response ready.
