It’s an interesting (and pretty noisy) time to be an Edmonton Oilers fan. The 2025-26 regular season is right around the corner, yet Connor McDavid remains unsigned as angst rises amongst the fanbase.
McDavid has made it plenty clear that the Oilers can’t do much more than they’ve already done to convince him to sign on the dotted line. The NHL superstar seemingly wants to take enough time and then some more to make sure the extension he signs is in the best interests of his family and sporting ambitions.
Given the delay in McDavid committing to the Oilers, a few NHL insiders have been left to wonder what a potential deal for the 28-year-old superstar could look like if other teams came calling.
What Carolina Hurricanes’ Connor McDavid Trade Pitch Could Look Like
There is a very, very slim chance that McDavid leaves the Oilers. With that said, The Athletic decided to go around the table with their beat writers to outline what each NHL team’s best pitch would be to bring McDavid to town.
The Carolina Hurricanes, who have been itching to add a bonafide superstar to their roster since missing out on Mitch Marner, were among the teams discussed.
Hurricanes insider Cory Lavalette had a few pertinent points to put forward. He noted that Carolina has four first-round picks in the next three drafts. At least three of those picks will have to be included in a deal for a star of McDavid’s caliber. In addition to those FRPs, the Hurricanes could also throw in Andrei Svechnikov, Pyotr Kochetkov, and top prospect Bradly Nadeau.
However, Lavalette noted that even with all this on the table, the Hurricanes will still struggle to get McDavid to leave the confines of Edmonton.
As things stand, few teams are true Stanley Cup contenders before the puck drops on the new season. The Oilers are right up there with the teams in consideration, alongside the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, and, possibly, the Montreal Canadiens.
The Hurricanes’ window is also open, especially with the addition of Nikolaj Ehlers. However, in the absence of a true elite superstar, Carolina may have a tough time in the postseason.
With that in mind, McDavid’s best shot at contending for a Stanley Cup over the next few years still lies with the Oilers. The only question is how much room his next extension gives Edmonton to maneuver with in free agency and/or in the trade market.
Multiple insiders have noted that McDavid is expected to give the Oilers a healthy hometown discount, since Leon Draisaitl ($14M a year) and Darnell Nurse ($9.25M) are on heavy salaries.
McDavid accepting a Draisaitl-level payday would be the best-case scenario for Edmonton. However, most insiders expect McDavid to sign a deal with a $15M-$16M average annual value.