Two straight Stanley Cup Final losses would break most players. For Connor McDavid, they’ve only intensified the questions about his future in Edmonton. The superstar captain is entering the final year of his contract with extension talks looming, but those closest to the Oilers remain confident he’s not going anywhere.
McDavid, 28, is now eligible to sign an extension with Edmonton. The Oilers have made it clear they want to keep their captain long-term, and NHL insiders believe a deal will eventually get done despite the recent postseason heartbreak.
Why Do Insiders Believe Connor McDavid Will Stay in Edmonton?
Gene Principe, a longtime Oilers broadcaster, recently spoke on “Spittin’ Chiclets” and offered insight into McDavid’s mindset.
“I am really confident that he will stay as an Oiler,” Principe said.
“I think Connor is, in soccer, we would use the term gutted, and I just think at the end of the season, Connor was. In hindsight, it would have been nice to not have him talk, but you know that would have been worse because people would be making up their own words and their own sentences.”
According to Principe, the emotions McDavid showed in his postseason interview weren’t signs of doubt. They were the reactions of a player who had given everything he had. He suggested that letting McDavid speak after the loss was better than staying silent, which could have fueled unwanted narratives.
“I just took it as a guy who’s spent, given his everything and then some,” he said.
Meanwhile, insider Elliotte Friedman echoed this sense of calm. “This is not one I’m worried about, I think he extends, I just don’t know what the term of that is going to be; there will be no fight, ‘what do you want, fine’,” Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast.
Elliotte Friedman: Re Connor McDavid: This is not one I’m worried about, I think he extends, I just don’t know what the term of that is going to be; there will be no fight, “what do you want, fine” – 32 Thoughts Podcast
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 13, 2025
On the ice, McDavid once again posted elite numbers. He notched 100Â points in 67 games and led the playoffs with 33 points, showing no signs of slowing down.
Could McDavid Test Free Agency in 2026?
While some believe McDavid could test the open market in 2026, others say that’s unlikely. Chris Johnston noted on the sdpn podcast that Toronto and other Original Six teams might be interested, but there’s been no indication McDavid is looking elsewhere.
As the Oilers regroup for another run, their primary goal is keeping Connor McDavid happy. They’ve built around him, and now they’ll need to show they can win with him.
For now, it appears McDavid’s heart is still in Edmonton. The speculation will continue, but unless something changes drastically, expect the Oilers to keep their biggest star for years to come.
