The aftermath of the Stanley Cup Final defeat has cast a shadow over the Edmonton Oilers, not just for the loss itself, but for the controversy that erupted in its wake. As the Florida Panthers celebrated their back-to-back championship victory, all eyes turned to Evander Kane—not for his performance on the ice, but for his actions after the final buzzer.

In a moment that quickly went viral, Kane’s absence from the traditional post-game handshake line drew widespread criticism and ignited heated debate across social media. The incident has sparked intense discussion about sportsmanship, respect, and the emotional toll of defeat at the highest level, leaving the hockey world divided and the Oilers facing yet another offseason of difficult questions.

Jun 6, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (91) reacts after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period in game two of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The Edmonton Oilers fell in the Stanley Cup Finals once again, and after the game, Evander Kane was blasted for his pathetic sportsmanship following the loss as he did not join the handshake line to congratulate his opponents.

After a thrilling series, the Florida Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, blowing out the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 by a score of 5-1 as they lifted the iconic trophy on home ice once more.

The game was physical, but it was dominated from start to end by the home team, and with two minutes to go, Evander Kane was given a penalty for slashing on Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk.

He departed the ice, and unsurprisingly, he didn’t come back, even to shake the hands of his opponent, spitting in the face of the respect that this series and the entire sport is based upon.

Unsurprisingly, he’s been called out on social media for his pathetic behaviour, as this is the biggest example of being a sore loser that we’ve seen in recent memory, with the Oilers veteran once again showing his character in defeat.

There are question marks over whether he would be allowed back out, but with the season over, someone with class would likely want to congratulate his opponents, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen in this situation, with many on social media continuing to blast him for his actions.

Ultimately, this was a heartbreaking loss for Kane and the Oilers, and after getting all the way back here once again, the future is now up in the air as this organization look to do it all again next year and take that final step.