The future of Connor McDavid with the Edmonton Oilers has been a major topic of discussion in recent years, and despite extending his contract for another two years just six months ago, chatter around it hasn’t gone away.
Edmonton’s struggles to find consistency so far this season have only fueled those questions, raising doubts about whether this team can return to the Stanley Cup Final and this time win it. As a result, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun has been closely monitoring the situation, and while a lot still has to unfold in the coming months, he shared some intriguing thoughts on McDavid’s future as an Oiler—particularly if they get bounced early in the playoffs.
“I don’t think McDavid wants to just walk out the door in ’28 as an unrestricted free agent and not have the Oilers get something in return. The summer of 2027, if he decides it’s time to leave, would be one year out from his contract expiry and allow the Oilers to gain something out of a trade, albeit a trade in which he controls his destination. Now, there’s obviously a world in which he signs another extension and spends his entire career in Edmonton. Let’s not discount that. But at a minimum, the feeling is he will give the Oilers one more season next year in this contention window.
Having said all that, let me just say this: If the Oilers flame out in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, I can’t discount how No. 97 will feel about that, about the team’s ability to win, and about his place in it. The most likely scenario is waiting until the summer of ’27 to revisit his future. But I can’t dismiss what the disappointment of a first-round elimination might change. So file that away,”
The 29-year-old McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension, signed in October, will kick in to begin the 2026-27 campaign. He’s done just about all he can again this season, having racked up 108 points (35 goals, 73 assists) through just 64 games played.
LeBrun continues to emphasize that there is no guarantee McDavid stays in Edmonton for the duration of his short-term extension, and that there is significant pressure on the Oilers to ensure that doesn’t become the case.
Some may feel that GM Stan Bowman didn’t help the cause with his trade deadline, which featured more tinkering around the edges of the roster rather than anything major. That being said, the moves he did make addressed some of Edmonton’s biggest weaknesses and, so far, have been impactful.
Whether it propels the Oilers to finish the regular season strong and make a deep postseason run remains in question, but the initial returns look solid. If, as LeBrun noted, it still results in the 2025-26 campaign ending in a first- or even second-round exit, uncomfortable conversations will inevitably come up.
The good thing for Edmonton is that they still have the best player in the world right now, who gives them a chance to beat anybody. So, until someone knocks them off, it will be hard to bet against McDavid and the Oilers come playoff time, no matter the circumstances.
Next: Insider Says Auston Matthews’ Future with the Maple Leafs is “50-50”
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
