Is it time for Edmonton Oilers fans to start worrying that Connor McDavid may ultimately choose to sign elsewhere when his current contract ends?
In the days following Edmonton’s second consecutive loss in the Stanley Cup Final, McDavid’s future with the franchise began to attract attention.
He is about to enter the final year of his contract, and while he is eligible to sign an extension with the Oilers on July 1, his most recent comments didn’t exactly inspire confidence that he is eager to get an extension done quickly.
Connor McDavid Appears To Be in No Rush for a Contract Extension
Speaking with Oilers reporters soon after the Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers, McDavid acknowledged that he and the rest of the team’s core have been working toward bringing the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton.
“This core has been together for a long time, and we’ve been building to this moment all along. The work that’s gone on behind the scenes, the conversations, the endless disappointments, and some good times along the way, obviously. We’re all in this together, trying to get it over that finish line,” McDavid said.
“With that being said, ultimately, I still need to do what’s best for me and my family. That’s who you have to take care of first.”
He then said there is no rush on his part to make a decision.
“I’m not in a rush to make any decision, so I don’t think that there needs to be any timeline,” McDavid said. “I know people are going to look at July 1 and will be looking to see if there’s anything done. But for me, no, I’m just not in a rush in that way.”
His comments have caused concern among Oilers fans, many of whom see them as potentially laying the groundwork for an eventual departure.
According to an NHL source who spoke to ESPN on condition of anonymity, McDavid is still evaluating all his options as he looks ahead in his career.
“He’s trying to find reasons to stay, not to leave,” the source said. “But everything’s on the table for Connor right now.”
To convince McDavid to stay, one area the Oilers will likely need to upgrade is goaltending. Edmonton has already been linked to Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko and Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson.
If McDavid ultimately leaves, it would mark one of the most significant shifts in a franchise’s trajectory in recent memory.
