Training camp might have just started in Edmonton, but talk on the ice isn’t what anyone’s paying attention to. It’s all about Connor McDavid. The Oilers captain is heading into the last year of his eight-year, $100 million deal, and with no new contract locked in, everyone’s wondering what happens next.
How Much Longer Will Connor McDavid Call Edmonton Home?
Inside the locker room, players aren’t adding any extra pressure. Goaltender Stuart Skinner spelled out how the group is dealing with things, saying the team is letting McDavid handle his situation his own way. Skinner summed it up simply: “We’re kind of just leaving it be, we’re not really chirping him right now. It’s not really in our spot to lead him one way or the other. Just trying to be as supportive as possible and do this thing this year, you know?”
Other teammates, including Leon Draisaitl, are keeping the same attitude. Everyone wants McDavid to stay, but they know the decision is up to him and his family. Draisaitl, who signed his own $112 million extension last year, added, “Of course, I want him here as long as possible, I want to win with him…But it’s about him and his family. They’ll make the decision that’s best for them.”
All around, the team is sticking together and choosing to keep the noise outside, letting McDavid set his own pace for a decision.
McDavid hasn’t dodged the spotlight, either. At Hockey Canada’s Olympic orientation camp, he made it clear his goal is to win in Edmonton. At the same time, he admitted that planning his future isn’t something that gets settled overnight.
The Oilers have come close before. They made it to the Stanley Cup Final two years running, only for the Florida Panthers to end their season both times. That sort of heartbreak ups the stakes right now. The team is good enough to make another run, but nothing is promised.
Edmonton Waits as McDavid Puts Timeline on His Terms
If McDavid reaches free agency in 2026, he’ll be the hottest player on the market. That thought keeps Edmonton fans on edge and has the rest of the league talking. The Oilers’ front office has said they’re confident, but every day without a new deal just adds more questions.
There’s talk, too, about McDavid being frustrated with roster changes, after younger players moved on through offer sheets. There’s nothing official, but it’s another wrinkle in the situation.
Mattias Ekholm, also heading into the last year of his contract, has made it known he’s willing to wait for an extension–pointing out, “The big boys” like McDavid take priority. That kind of take helps lower the temperature in the room.
Right now, nobody knows what McDavid will do next. He could sign on for years, bridge things with a shorter deal, or take his chances and hit the market. The Oilers are focused on opening night, and everyone else is just waiting for McDavid to make his move.
