Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid sat in a information convention days after shedding within the Stanley Cup Remaining to the Florida Panthers for the second straight season. He was peppered with questions on his future, with unrestricted free company looming in summer season 2026 if he does not signal an extension with the Oilers.
The Edmonton media was fishing for any signal that McDavid was dedicated to the group and the town, however he wasn’t biting. Somebody requested if he had a way of unfinished enterprise along with his teammates after coming so near elevating the Cup, shedding in seven video games to Florida final season and in six video games this month.
“This core has been collectively for a very long time and we have been constructing to this second all alongside. The work that is gone on behind the scenes, the conversations, the infinite disappointments and a few good occasions alongside the way in which, clearly. We’re all on this collectively, making an attempt to get it over that end line,” McDavid stated.
Then got here the 4 phrases that shook a metropolis to its soul.
“With that being stated,” McDavid continued, “finally, I nonetheless must do what’s greatest for me and my household. That is who it’s a must to handle first.”
It was the primary time McDavid even hinted at hesitation about his future in Edmonton. He is getting into the ultimate season of an eight-year, $100 million deal signed in July 2017. Many assumed the ink could be drying on an extension with the Oilers — in what is anticipated to be the richest contract in NHL historical past — when he is eligible to signal on July 1. However McDavid is unlikely to signal that extension except he’s comfy with the progress Edmonton’s made in bettering its roster for subsequent season and past.
“I am not in a rush to make any resolution, so I do not assume that there must be any timeline,” McDavid stated. “I do know persons are going to take a look at July 1 and will likely be trying to see if there’s something finished. However for me, no, I am simply not in a rush in that means.”
An NHL supply stated that McDavid is not dedicated, at this level, to staying with the Oilers past subsequent season. However he is additionally not dedicated to transferring on from the group that drafted him first total in 2015.
“He is looking for causes to remain, to not depart,” the supply stated. “However all the things’s on the desk for Connor proper now.”
IF MCDAVID DOESN’T RE-SIGN with the Oilers, it might be an unprecedented second within the historical past of NHL free company. By no means earlier than has a generational expertise — with a number of MVP awards and scoring titles to his credit score — reached unrestricted free company in his prime.
There won’t be a comparative second in North American skilled sports activities since LeBron James and “The Determination” in 2010 — though given what followers and gamers have been chanting about McDavid after the Panthers’ second Stanley Cup win over Edmonton, one assumes McDavid will not be taking his skills to South Seaside.
With Stanley Cup rivalry as his objective, the pool of groups with whom McDavid would contemplate signing is restricted. There’s been hypothesis in regards to the Ontario native having a homecoming with the Toronto Maple Leafs, nonetheless in search of their first Stanley Cup since 1967; that he might be part of former Oilers GM Ken Holland with the Los Angeles Kings; that the New York Rangers might make him the king of Broadway whereas easing his goaltending complications with Igor Shesterkin; or that well-maintained franchises just like the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning might make their pitches.
McDavid is dedicated to Edmonton for the 2025-26 season. That checklist of potential suitors might change in that span, relying on their very own fortunes.
1:35
Messier: McDavid and Draisaitl are the 2 greatest gamers of their era
Mark Messier joins “Get Up” and breaks down the place Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl stack up within the NHL after the Oilers’ extra time win.
After Leon Draisaitl inked an eight-year, $112 million deal final summer season — a contract that may hold him in Edmonton till 2033 — many assumed McDavid’s extension could be a mere formality. In spite of everything, why would Draisaitl signal with out some indication that his shut buddy and frequent linemate McDavid would do the identical?
However sources advised ESPN in January that one signing was not a harbinger of the opposite, and that McDavid would make his personal resolution unbiased of Draisaitl’s.
However make no mistake: Draisaitl is a think about McDavid’s resolution. As are defenseman Evan Bouchard, ahead Zach Hyman, ahead Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and each different core participant who theoretically will likely be in Edmonton for the subsequent a number of seasons. As McDavid stated, the core has been by playoff battles collectively, and there is a sense of unfinished enterprise for him in Edmonton.
“We have been two video games away from profitable. Final yr, we have been two photographs away from profitable, so the assumption is extremely excessive in that room,” he stated. “We talked about that every one all through the playoffs, and we do imagine that this group can win and can win.”
However for all that perception, McDavid needs to know the plan for a way the crew can win within the quick time period and the long run. It is an important a part of his decision-making course of to stay in Edmonton.
He needs to know the way a crew with simply over $10 million in cap area, with out a lot draft capital and the Thirtieth-ranked prospect pool, could make the required strikes to recover from the championship hump and stay aggressive. Final summer season, that pool of younger gamers bought thinner when ahead Dylan Holloway and defenseman Phillip Broberg have been poached by the St. Louis Blues by way of supply sheets.
McDavid nodded at that skinny prospect pool throughout his press convention. “It isn’t like we have now a ton of cap room and we have an extended checklist of extremely touted prospects knocking on the door,” he stated.
McDavid reiterated: “If I really feel that there is a good window to win right here time and again, then signing isn’t any downside.”
GM Stan Bowman did not essentially agree that pitching McDavid on the Oilers’ window to win was any extra very important than assembly his asking value throughout negotiations.
“I do not know if it’s a must to promote one factor any greater than one other,” he stated.
However Bowman is aware of that convincing McDavid of Edmonton’s persevering with dedication to win is paramount. When he was employed to exchange Holland final summer season, Bowman visited with McDavid, who advised him that he wished to win the Stanley Cup.
“That was it. We did not speak about the rest. That is his singular focus,” Bowman stated.
“I assume it is my job to attach with Connor and display that is what we’re all making an attempt to do. All of us have the identical goal. I understand how passionate he’s about profitable. It is what I like about him,” he stated. “He is not only a incredible hockey participant, however he is an ideal particular person, an ideal chief, and he is extremely motivated to do no matter it takes.”
IF MCDAVID ULTIMATELY RE-SIGNS with the Oilers, what he hears from Bowman might decide the size of that contract. There is a rising perception that McDavid might not signal an eight-year extension like Draisaitl, however might discover one thing within the three- to five-year vary. That might permit him to try to complete the “unfinished enterprise” with the core in Edmonton, whereas reaching UFA standing in his early 30s with the NHL wage cap projected to proceed its record-setting ascent.
Another excuse to imagine this might occur is Judd Moldaver, government vice chairman at Wasserman and McDavid’s agent. He was the primary NHL agent within the wage cap period to hunt contracts for famous person purchasers with considerably lower than most time period. He is gone shorter than eight years on blockbuster extensions for Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, with a five-year deal in 2019 and a four-year deal signed in 2023, in addition to Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski (six years, signed in 2021). He might search to do the identical for McDavid.
Matthews had the league’s highest cap hit ($13.25 million common annual worth) earlier than Draisaitl’s contract ($14 million AAV) kicks in subsequent season.
McDavid is all however sure to eclipse that. His subsequent contract — at no matter size it finally ends up being — will vary between $15.5 million and $19 million per yr on a max deal, a number of sources indicated to ESPN. Something above Draisaitl’s cap hit would set a brand new NHL report for highest common annual worth within the cap period.
The cash will handle itself. It is Connor McDavid, the man with three Hart trophies as NHL MVP, a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and 5 scoring titles. In principle, the contract negotiation with McDavid is basically a normal supervisor asking how a lot he wants, after which writing the test.
However McDavid has stated that the prospect to raise the Stanley Cup is extra vital than his checking account.
“Profitable could be on the high of the checklist,” he stated. “It is an important factor.”
The Oilers are assured that, after two journeys to the Stanley Cup Remaining, they provide the very best shot at profitable for McDavid. However additionally they supply the consolation of being the one NHL dwelling he is recognized.
McDavid and his spouse, Lauren Kyle McDavid, have a home within the Parkview space of Edmonton that was featured by Architectural Digest. Kyle McDavid additionally just lately helped open the trendy Bar Trove in Edmonton that options Trove Dwelling, a retail dwelling furnishing retailer on the ground above it. Her firm, Kyle & Co. Design, is positioned on the third ground of the constructing.
Given his historical past with the crew and his roots within the metropolis, the Oilers are optimistic however affected person with McDavid.
“He is earned the correct for us to be respectful of his timing. Actually we’re keen to fulfill with him each time he needs, however we additionally perceive that he simply went by a really robust ending to the season,” Bowman stated.
1:04
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman: Connor McDavid transcends hockey
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tells Stephen A. Smith that Connor McDavid’s affect transcends the sport of hockey.
Final yr, Leon Draisaitl did not signal his extension till Sept. 3.
“Timing-wise, Connor’s going to drive that course of, however there is no query he is a pivotal participant on our crew for not simply what he does on the ice, however his management,” Bowman stated. “I’ve had an opportunity to work with him now and I have been simply so impressed with stuff you guys most likely do not see. He is extremely vital to our group and each time he is prepared, we will dive into that.”
Close to the tip of his information convention, McDavid was requested by a neighborhood reporter for a message to the followers. Those which were on this journey with the Oilers throughout his time with the crew. Those “desirous to see what precisely occurs along with your future right here” in Edmonton, because the questioner put it.
“My message to the followers could be to maintain being affected person and hold believing. They have been by loads, identical to our crew has. The emotional highs, the lows. I have a look at what these playoff runs do to my household. It is laborious on them. It is laborious on the followers. It is laborious on all people. However finally when that day comes, it’s going to all be price it,” he stated. “These moments are robust now. However when that second comes, it’s going to be definitely worth the look ahead to certain.”
The message wasn’t a passionate dedication to remain in Edmonton nor was it a declaration that his baggage are packed without cost company. The message was {that a} championship will make all of the postseason heartache definitely worth the ache. Because the NHL offseason begins, the place McDavid may finally win that championship is, at this second, unsure.
