Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have not been shy about voicing their frustration after an upset first-round loss to the Anaheim Ducks quickly ended their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
As a result, much of the attention has shifted to McDavid’s future and whether he might reconsider staying with the Edmonton Oilers before his two-year extension even begins. That remains the primary focus, given the short-term nature of his deal; however, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun noted on Saturday that just because Draisaitl is locked up long term doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll see it through in Edmonton either.
“It’s interesting that our only focus seems to be on what 97 will decide to do, whether that’s this summer or next or whenever. And it’s obviously because he only has a 2-year deal. But I mean, nothing is stopping Leon Draisaitl from asking out one day if that’s what he wanted. Not saying he will nor do I have any feeling he will. But just because he signed an 8-year deal doesn’t mean he will necessarily play it out all in Edmonton,”
The 30-year-old Draisaitl has seven years remaining on the eight-year, $112 million extension he signed with the Oilers in 2024, which includes a full no-movement clause throughout. He remained highly productive despite Edmonton’s playoff shortcomings, recording 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the six-game series.
Draisaitl won’t be going anywhere unless McDavid decides to leave, and for now, that still feels unlikely—even after a disappointing 2025–26 campaign.
That said, LeBrun’s comments reinforce that time is ticking for the Oilers not only with McDavid, but also with Draisaitl, who could look to chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere if his running mate were no longer around.
Don’t expect anything of that nature to unfold this offseason, but the two-headed monster has put a lot of pressure on the organization with their recent comments. If they fail to deliver in 2026–27, everything could be on the table from there.
Next: Oilers Reveal Full Extent of Connor McDavid’s Playoff Injury
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