The Edmonton Oilers’ 2026 playoff run ended far earlier than expected. After reaching back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, Edmonton was expected to take that viral next step with another deep postseason push. Instead, the Oilers were eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in six games, making it one of the biggest surprises of the playoffs.
Now, one Oilers insider believes the organization should take a lesson from the newly crowned NBA champion New York Knicks.
Knicks’ Brunson Blueprint The Way For Oilers With Connor McDavid
The New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA championship by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games, ending a title drought that stretched back more than 50 years.
One of the key reasons for their success was a decision Jalen Brunson made in 2024. The star guard signed a team-friendly four-year, $156.5 million extension, reportedly passing up about $113 million in potential earnings to give the organization more financial flexibility.
That extra room helped the Knicks strengthen their roster, including adding Karl-Anthony Towns and retaining important contributors such as OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. Those moves ultimately helped New York build a championship team around Brunson.
Oilers insider Jason Gregor pointed to that example while discussing Edmonton’s situation. “Brunson put a lot of faith in management to make good deals with the money saved, and they did. When a star player takes less, you need good management to turn those savings into a better roster. **Cough, Oilers, Cough**.”
Gregor’s point was simple: when a superstar accepts less money, management has to make the most of that opportunity.
That’s why many see similarities between Brunson and Connor McDavid.
In October 2025, McDavid signed a team-friendly two-year, $25 million extension with Edmonton. His $12.5 million annual salary remained unchanged from his previous contract, despite the NHL salary cap increasing and top stars around the league signing bigger deals.
General manager Stan Bowman noted McDavid could have requested virtually any salary allowed under league rules. Instead, he prioritized giving Edmonton flexibility to remain competitive.
The criticism from Gregor stems from what happened next.
When McDavid took less money, many expected the Oilers to use that extra cap space to fix the team’s biggest weaknesses. Instead, Edmonton still struggled with inconsistent goaltending and defensive depth, issues that hurt them throughout the season.
While the Knicks used their financial flexibility to build a championship team, the Oilers were eliminated in the first round, leading some to question whether management made the most of McDavid’s sacrifice.
McDavid’s two-year extension also puts pressure on the organization. He gave the team more flexibility, but he also gave management a short window to prove it can build a legitimate Stanley Cup contender around him.
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What happens over the next two seasons could have a major impact on the future of both McDavid and the Oilers. If McDavid is unconvinced of Edmonton’s path forward, the franchise will need to tear it all down to the studs, and Bowman will likely have to vacate his office to usher in a new era of hockey.
