Connor McDavid is set to become a free agent following the 2025-2026 season. At the moment, no one knows for sure what his future holds after the Edmonton Oilers once again lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers.
The rumors are swirling. On that front, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have the edge to pair McDavid with Auston Matthews, but several insiders have also placed other teams on the radar, including the Montreal Canadiens, the Detroit Red Wings, the Carolina Hurricanes and, in a less likely scenario, the Vegas Golden Knights.
For many analysts, McDavid becoming a free agent would then be comparable to what happened in the NBA when LeBron James left Cleveland or when Tom Brady chose to stop playing for the Patriots.
When can Connor McDavid sign a contract extension with Oilers?
Connor McDavid is already eligible to sign a contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, but in a surprising development, Chris Johnston has confirmed that negotiations haven’t even started between the two sides.
“Look, it’s been two weeks that he could have extended in Edmonton and, to my knowledge, there’s been no discussions about an extension yet. That being said, I think it’s a five minute phone call if his agent Judd Moldaver wants to do a contract with the Oilers. It’s just a matter of getting the other side and fill in the numbers.”
Despite that, the final part of the report is also optimistic for any Oilers fan. Ultimately, McDavid will control and dictate the terms of any discussion with any team.
If Connor decides to stay in Edmonton, the only thing left to sort out will be how much money he wants to receive to become the highest-paid player in NHL history. What will undoubtedly delay the decision is which team gives him the best chance to compete for the Stanley Cup based on the roster they have.