The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers will face each other for the fourth consecutive time in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Though the two franchises may feel trapped in a Groundhog Day scenario, Kings forward Warren Foegele will experience something different as he goes head-to-head with Connor McDavid and his former teammates in Alberta.
The Kings have been eliminated by the Oilers in each of the last three NHL seasons, as the Edmonton franchise rides a three-year streak of winning at least one playoff series.
The Kings have had enough, and will vie to finally give the Oilers a taste of their own medicine. Perhaps Foegele’s addition is the difference when Los Angeles and Edmonton clash for the fourth time in a row.
Ahead of the series puck drop on April 20, former Oilers forward Foegele delivered a clear statement to McDavid and the rest of the team, warning them about their upcoming best-of-seven clash in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2025 in New York City.
“The friendships will always last forever, but a bunch of those guys know that once the playoffs start, we won’t be friends, and then we’ll go back to being friends once the series is over,” Kings forward Warren Foegele admitted, via NHL.com.
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If you can beat them, join them
In a strange turn of events, Foegele joined the Kings on a three-year contract on July 2024. Foegele had helped Edmonton move past Los Angeles during his three years in the northenmost NHL city. This time around, he will battle for a different outcome when the Kings and Oilers take to the ice.
“It’s unique because a year ago, you went to battle with those guys and made it to the Stanley Cup Final,” Foegele added. “They were a bunch of great guys, and we fell short in the last game of the season. Those guys know me well and they know that I’m super competitive.“
Warren Foegele #37 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after his goal during the first period of Game Six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Place on June 21, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Taking what he learned in Edmonton
Foegele praised Leon Draisaitl as being a key instructor, helping him polish his game as he had registered a career-high 41 point season during his last campaign with the Oilers.
However, Foegele has one-upped himself as he has already set a new career best with the Kings, recording 43 points with two games left to play.
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“I learned a lot playing in Edmonton and I learned a lot playing with Leon [Draisaitl],” Foegele said. “He’s a heck of a player. He can be hard on his linemates sometimes, but I think in the long run it’s beneficial. He really taught me a lot of things.
“I think one of the things I do remember him saying is that you can’t just do it every couple of games, you have to try and do it every night. That’s probably one of the hardest things to do in this league is to be consistent.“
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Foegele has failed to register a point in his last five outings, but he remains calm and hopeful that he’ll eventually break through—either during the final stretch, or even better, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
