Connor McDavid is heading into the 2025-26 campaign with some of the biggest questions of his career hanging over him. The Edmonton Oilers need to lock down their captain for the long haul, but McDavid hasn’t signed an extension, and that’s got fans and insiders wondering what’s next. Everyone’s watching to see whether the current roster is built for the future, or if the team is running out of time.
Will Connor McDavid Commit Long-Term to an Aging Oilers Core?
TSN’s Chris Johnston didn’t mince words as he talked about these challenges. He believes the Edmonton Oilers are at risk of “aging out” right as their best player hits his prime years.
Johnston noted, “If you look at the way the Oilers are constructed, there could be some reasons for concern in two or three or four or five years’ time,” Johnston said on “First Up.” “That team kind of ages out just because they don’t have a lot of younger talent coming, and there’s some uncertainty there.”
At the center of all this is McDavid, now 28 years old and entering the last season of his eight-year, $100 million deal. The Edmonton Oilers want to lock their superstar up. Still, as Johnston pointed out, it’s McDavid’s call to make. “It’s really one person and his family’s decision,” Johnston said, explaining that the team will do whatever it takes to meet McDavid’s terms.
The decision is tricky. McDavid is at the “midway point” of his career, recognized by many as the game’s top player but still chasing his first Stanley Cup. He has always said he wants to win with Edmonton. But now, he faces a choice: do his goals and the Oilers’ direction match up right now?
Johnston suggested there could be some hesitation, as McDavid might use this season to see how management handles an older roster. That approach could shape whether he sticks around long term.
Why Is McDavid Taking a Calculated Approach to His Next Contract?
The slow pace of contract talks is catching people off guard, especially after an optimistic start to the summer. Johnston admitted the entire situation took him by surprise. “There was so much optimism going into the offseason that something would get done,” he said. Instead, the captain appears content to wait, and fans are left watching to see how management copes with the pressure of holding a Cup contender together.
This uncertainty goes beyond Edmonton. Johnston noted that other stars up for extensions, including Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov, could be watching McDavid’s next deal before they make their own moves. With the salary cap increasing, people expect McDavid’s new contract to set the bar, potentially topping $16-18 million annually.
Edmonton’s challenge is straightforward but tough: Keep chasing a Cup now, while making sure the roster won’t fall apart down the road. Veterans Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, and Zach Hyman remain top contributors. But Johnston’s comments spotlight the core’s longevity: Without more young players joining the group, it’s unclear how long the Oilers can keep playing at a championship level.
That unknown is likely key to McDavid’s decision. If he feels Edmonton’s window is closing, waiting out the process gives him more options. If management proves they can refresh the team around him, a deal could come together fast.
For now, it’s a tightrope situation. Johnston summed it up by saying the odds of McDavid signing in Edmonton are “at least 50-50.” That number alone shows just how uncertain things are for the Oilers, and how huge this decision is for the league’s top player.
