The Edmonton Oilers insist that the franchise’s face, Connor McDavid, will continue his illustrious NHL career with the team. GM Stan Bowman recently reiterated his firm faith in the Oilers captain re-signing with Edmonton.
By all means, the top bosses, including the team’s billionaire owner, believe that McDavid will stay with the Oilers, even though contract negotiations are taking longer than usual.
There is speculation that McDavid will favor signing a short-term deal with the Oilers. The team, on the other hand, could decisively want a long-term partnership with the captain.
However, shying away from short-term contracts can yield far from desirable results for the Oilers, even beyond McDavid.
Evading Short-Term Contracts Not the Way To Go for the Edmonton Oilers
However you look at the McDavid-Oilers situation, the standout forward is the real winner. Even after all these years, McDavid remains a rare talent.
It goes without saying that in any discussion between the center and the Oilers management, the former has an upper hand. If McDavid wants a short-term contract with the team, he most likely will have it.
A player of McDavid’s stature, first of all, wants to win. Numerous accolades later, a glaring gap remains in the Oilers captain’s resume: a Stanley Cup. After two heartbreaking campaigns that took the team awfully close to the win, a shorter contract seems a more realistic option for the 28-year-old.
“There’s only so much management can do to improve that this season, too, so McDavid might have to trust his gut, as he’s previously suggested. At least a short-term deal would allow him to reassess the situation sooner, as opposed to when his career is potentially in the twilight stages,” wrote Daniel Nugent-Bowman for The Athletic.
Why Connor McDavid signing a short-term deal could actually benefit Oilers https://t.co/q8RWkzEgPn
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) September 19, 2025
If McDavid wants a short-term contract, the Edmonton front office must give him one. It could be the only way the Oilers can ensure the franchise’s superstar continues to play for them.
Avoiding short-term contracts can also hurt the Oilers in terms of other free agents who may be unwilling to sign otherwise. “One league source noted that the uncertainty with a short-term contract could discourage some higher-profile players from signing with the Oilers,” noted Nugent-Bowman.
As tempting as the prospect of re-signing McDavid to another eight-year contract may be for the Oilers, it is hardly surprising that the standout center will be hesitant to proceed. The only way to ensure a long Oilers-McDavid partnership is by improving the overall roster: building a team that delivers collectively and does not merely look to McDavid to propel the team to victory.
The Edmonton outfit must beat the “one-line team” allegations, and this could be a reasonable starting point.
