This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win! Thank you so much for rocking with us today. We appreciate you here.
It’s been nine long years for Connor McDavid and Edmonton. He’s long been one of the best players in the NHL. He got the Wayne Gretzky stamp as soon as he came into the league and has lived up to that billing in almost every way.
He’s basically been an All-Star since he’s come into the league, making the game for seven out of the nine years he’s played. He’s a three-time Hart Trophy winner already at just 27 years old. He’s led the league in total points and assists multiple times. There’s not much more you can say about his time in Edmonton.
Well, actually, there is one thing. He’s never won The Cup.
That’s the only thing missing — that elusive Stanley Cup. The Oilers have never even made the Finals until now during McDavid’s reign. This is the first time Edmonton has been back since 2006.
If McDavid wins this? He’ll solidify himself at 27 years old as one of the greats in the game and he’ll do it with the same franchise Gretzky put on the map.
But standing in his way are the Florida Panthers. And — let me tell you — that is not a team that budges easily. Just ask the New York Rangers.
This is a chance at redemption for Florida. Last season, after making it to the Finals, the Panthers lost 4-1 to the Golden Knights. You can’t blame them — that team was decimated by injury by the time the Finals rolled around. This year, it’s a different story. Florida is healthy and hungry.
Nobody on that side cares about McDavid’s place in NHL history. The Panthers only care about making up for lost time. And, let me tell you, they’ve been playing like the NHL owes them one all postseason long. The Panthers have been beating up opponents and fighting to get back. There was no way Florida was going to miss these Finals.
This is going to be an excellent series. Lock in. It all starts on Saturday.
READ MORE: Panthers open as slight favorites over the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup
Caitlin Clark has more to worry about than being bullied
Once again, this weekend, we got a bunch of whining from the outside about somebody being a little too physical with Caitlin Clark.
Chennedy Carter did too much when she knocked Clark to the ground during Saturday’s Fever-Sky game. The tension built up between the two after Carter caught a bow from Clark. What happened after that appeared to be a retaliation and was (correctly) upgraded to a flagrant foul.
Everyone came to her defense. Matt Barnes called out her teammates. Robert Griffin is calling Carter’s foul “hating.” Even the Pro Football Talk account (??????) is talking about “rookie resentment,” which, by the way, absolutely does exist in the NFL.
Give me a break with the copious amounts of hand-wringing here. You’d think none of these folks have watched — let alone played! — professional sports before. Rookies struggle. Sometimes, things get physical. Sometimes, players don’t like each other! It is what it is.
Clark and the Fever have much bigger problems. Both Clark and Aliyah Boston suffered minor injuries against the Liberty on Sunday. They’ll both recover. But, more importantly, Clark can’t seem to figure out how to beat WNBA defenders and the team’s offense runs through her right now.
That’s the bottom line when it comes to their problems. Figure that out and, I guarantee you, the extra stuff won’t feel half as important as everyone is making it out to be.
Straight cash, homie
Justin Jefferson is laughing straight to the bank, folks. The Minnesota Vikings wideout just signed a deal making low-level quarterback money.
Jefferson inked a four-year, $140 million deal with the Vikings that includes a $110 million guarantee. That includes $88.7 million due at the deal’s signing, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
This is the biggest non-QB deal in NFL history, according to Schefter, just eking out Nick Bosa’s deal with the 49ers by $1 million. He’ll be making $35 million annually.
Welp. I guess folks can cancel all of those trade talks surrounding Jefferson. He just cashed out, folks. Good on the Vikings for finally getting this done. It’s about time.
Quick hits: The greatest NBA Finals ever … An incredible baseball trick … and more
— Here’s Robert Zeglinski with a ranking of the 14 greatest NBA Finals ever.
— The hidden ball trick gets me every time. Clemson pulled it off. Charles Curtis has more on that here.
— Tommy Pham was fuming at the Brewers after being called out on this atrocious path home. Here’s Andrew Joseph with more.
— Charles Curtis has 11 big names trying to make it to Pinehurst for the U.S. Open this week.
— The vibes are still vibing between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
— The Wizards are cursed, but I guess that’s good for the rest of the NBA. Here’s Robert with more.
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for rocking with us today. Appreciate you. We’ll talk again soon. Peace. We out.
-Sykes ✌️
