All of the focus around Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers right now is on finding a way to fix their defensive issues in time for another deep playoff run. GM Stan Bowman has already begun adding help from the outside with the acquisition of Connor Murphy, but he shouldn’t be expected to stop there. At least McDavid certainly hopes there’s more to come.
The best player in the world is chomping at the bit to get back to the Finals and, this time, win the Stanley Cup. According to one insider, that hunger to win has grown so strong that it could create an even shorter leash for his time in Edmonton than previously thought.
Pierre LeBrun of TSN made some eye-opening comments during an appearance on OverDrive on Monday, suggesting that despite extending with the Oilers, if things don’t go according to plan, McDavid may not see the entirety of the deal through in Edmonton.
“That team is very interesting to me right now, let’s just put it that way. Because let’s not forget that even though Connor McDavid signed a two-year extension in September, and that seemed to quiet the waters, he did so in a way that gave me the impression from talking to people he kind of put the Oilers on notice, like we need to keep knocking at the door here. So just because he signed a two-year extension doesn’t mean he has to play that extension out in Edmonton if you want to read between the lines. So there’s a lot of pressure there in Edmonton right now to get this roster in the best possible position they can be in to go for another deep run here,”
The 29-year-old McDavid signed that aforementioned two-year, $25 million extension with the Oilers just prior to the start of the 2025-26 campaign, which will kick in beginning in 2026-27.
He’s in the midst of another unbelievably productive season, having already racked up 103 points (35 goals, 68 assists) through just 61 games.
Losing the gold medal game in heartbreaking fashion certainly didn’t help from an Oilers standpoint, as McDavid is now even more motivated to win above all else. If he determines that can’t happen in Edmonton, all bets are off for what comes next.
That said, despite all the ups and downs this season, McDavid and the Oilers are still likely to make the playoffs—67.3% according to MoneyPuck—and if they do, they could draw a very favorable first-round matchup. So even though it feels like the sky is falling right now, don’t be fooled: Edmonton could absolutely go on a third straight deep playoff run this spring and put all of the chatter to bed.
Next: Insider Says Former Oiler Could Again Be on the Move Before Deadline
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
