Edmonton Oilers add intrigue to Stanley Cup Final by not touching Clarence Campbell Bowl

The Edmonton Oilers reached their second Stanley Cup Final appearance of the salary cap era, replicating their initial feat as the inaugural representatives of the Western Conference in 2006. Following a decisive 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final, captain Connor McDavid and his Oilers marked their Clarence Campbell Bowl triumph with a group photo, adhering to the tradition of not physically interacting with the trophy.

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McDavid’s action mirrored former Edmonton captain Jason Smith’s choice in 2006, when they clinched the Bowl after defeating the Anaheim Ducks in five games. This avoidance of the Clarence Campbell Bowl has emerged as a notable trend over the past 18 seasons.

Despite the Western Conference producing ten of the last 18 Stanley Cup champions, none have managed consecutive victories. Only the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning, both from the Eastern Conference, have achieved back-to-back titles since 2006.

However, the Chicago Blackhawks claimed three championships within five years (2010, 2013, and 2015), while the Los Angeles Kings secured two within three years (2012 and 2014). Notably, the Detroit Red Wings are the sole Western Conference team to reach consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances since 2006, splitting their victories with a win (2008) and a loss (2009) against the Penguins before transitioning to the Eastern Conference in 2013.

Despite the varied successes and transitions, there’s a consistent thread among these teams: the deliberate avoidance of touching the Clarence Campbell Bowl upon victory.