Connor McDavid Leaving Edmonton Talk Won't Go Away
The only thing the hockey world will want to talk about is the future of Connor McDavid with the Edmonton Oilers.
That speculation will only pick up over the next couple of months if McDavid is not signed to a new contract extension. And while he did not say he was leaving the Edmonton Oilers, he wants to take his time when it comes to signing a new deal, as he told the media on Thursday.
“It’s only been a couple of days, I’m sure we’ll get into it over the course of the next couple of weeks,” McDavid said to the media on Thursday during his year-end availability. "I'm not in a rush to make any decision. So I don't think that there needs to be any timeline. I know people are going to look at that July 1 day and be looking to see if there's anything done. But for me, I'm just not in a rush that way."
The talk about McDavid possibly leaving the Edmonton Oilers in the summer of 2026 goes back a couple of years. It feels like ever since McDavid signed his eight-year, $100 million contract, which carried a cap hit of $12.5 million, on July 5, 2017, people have been speculating that he would leave the Oilers and join another team.
The narrative was always out there. However, once the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Final last year, losing to the Florida Panthers in seven games, many people thought that narrative was put to rest.
However, it picked up again when Leon Draisaitl was negotiating his contract extension with the Oilers. Many wondered if Draisaitl would leave, which would mean McDavid would follow. While being good friends off the ice, one negotiation had nothing to do with the other. Many made it into two negotiations.
However, that narrative about McDavid leaving was squashed and buried the minute the Oilers extended Leon Draisaitl. Why would Draisaitl have signed an eight-year extension if Connor McDavid wasn't coming back?
But regardless, things picked up again when the Oilers made it to the Final, and the speculation ramped up about, ‘Well, if the Oilers lose again, McDavid isn’t staying.”
Many people will likely dissect and overreact to his comments. There is speculation that he could be headed to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Or leave and become a bigger name elsewhere and explode even more.
That is, people who don’t know much about the NHL make hot takes and dissect other sports, such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB, and translate them to the NHL. That doesn’t work.
As documented, he is a competitor who wants to win. And that is his number one priority, and it is every player’s number one priority. The ultimate accomplishment in the NHL is winning a Stanley Cup.
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McDavid had two cracks at it, losing both times to the Florida Panthers and wants another one. That is his goal for the upcoming season, and it will be his driving force in signing a new contract.
"Winning would be at the top of the list. And then, winning would be the... it's the most important thing. If I feel that there's a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem," McDavid continued on Thursday.
Until he puts pen to paper, people are going to wonder if he wants to be a member of the Edmonton Oilers. All indications suggest that he does not want to leave Edmonton, despite what many in the hockey world want to believe. However, he will do what is best for his family.
“This core has been together for a long time and we’ve been building to this moment all along,” McDavid said. “The work that’s gone on behind the scenes, the conversations, the disappointments and some good times along the way as well.
We’re all in this together, trying to get it over that finish line. With that being said, ultimately, I still need to do what’s best for me and my family and that’s who I have to take care of first, but of course there is unfinished business here.”
This is similar to what Draisaitl said last year. He discussed taking the time to determine what he wants, what the Oilers want, and what everyone wants, and the parties will proceed from there. But he stayed because he knew he could play with McDavid for many years.
Those two are as tight as brothers, and whether it's a short-term or long-term deal, Connor McDavid will stay in Edmonton. So, of course, he wants him back on the team. Everyone in the organization wants him to stay.
And look, there is always a chance he leaves, because you can never say never in this business. However, Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman will make him a priority, as he did with Draisaitl last year.
"Well, Connor's the best player in the league, the most important player in the league. He's our captain. He's our leader. So certainly, he's the number one priority," Bowman told the media on Friday. And I think also listening to Connor's take on things like he's earned the right for us to be respectful of his timing. Certainly we're eager to meet with him whenever he wants, but also understanding that he's going through a very tough ending season, so timing-wise, that's kind of going to drive that process, but there's no question, he's a pivotal player on our team."
Despite reports of the sides discussing the basis for a deal, not to mention McDavid's former agent, Jeff Jackson, now the CEO of Hockey Operations with the Oilers, fans and other media members will likely speculate on McDavid’s future.
That is the nature of the business. However, the Oilers are aware of the number for Connor McDavid. He will be the highest-paid player in the NHL. Whether it is a short-term or a mid-range deal in the four to six-year range, McDavid is looking to get between $15-$18 million per year.
And the Edmonton Oilers give him a chance to win as their window is open, as they look to reshape their roster for another crack at the Stanley Cup.
But again, this is on Connor McDavid's timeline. Whether it is mid-July, late-July, or sometime in August or September, all indications are that McDavid will be back with the Edmonton Oilers. It is just a matter of how long.
However, the rumours will be swirling surrounding his future with the Edmonton Oilers, as this is a topic that won’t go away until he signs. And even then, it might not go away.
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