Latest details on Connor McDavid’s next contract emerge and stun fans

On Thursday when it was time to face reporters in exit interviews, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid admitted that he will take some time to digest losing his second consecutive Stanley Cup Final before turning his attention to a potential contract extension.

“It’s only been a couple days since the season ended,” McDavid said. “Take some time to regroup, talk to my agent a little bit and family and all that. Make some decisions whenever that time comes. There’s no rush. No rush on anything like that.”

He added: “If I feel like there’s a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem. …

“But again, I’m not in a rush to make any decision. So I don’t think there needs to be any timeline. I know people are going to look at that July 1 day and be looking to see if there’s anything done, but for me, I’m just not in a rush that way.”

McDavid is eligible to sign an extension as of July 1 before playing out the final season of an eight-year, $100-million contract in 2025-26. He would otherwise become the most coveted free agent of the 2026 class if he doesn’t sign a deal before then or he does not get traded by Edmonton. McDavid is the face of the franchise and fans are hoping to see him re-sign, just like close friend and star temmate Leon Draisaitl did last summer when he inked a contract worth $14M AAV through 2032-33. The Oilers enter this off-season with $11.96 million in cap space to play with, per Puck Pedia, and 19 players already under contract for next season. Edmonton must also get a massive extension done with restricted free agent blue-liner Evan Bouchard.

When speaking about McDavid’s next contract, if he re-signs with the Oilers, insider Darren Dreger believes that it won’t be a monster deal like everyone expects, claims that the captain will not move from Edmonton, but would perhaps request a bridge contract instead of the maximum eight-year commitment.

“Connor McDavid is staying in Edmonton, but “what intrigues me is, what is the length of that contract? Would he go 3, 4 years?”

I can’t say that after losing yet again in the Stanley Cup Final McDavid will be in a hurry to sign an extension. But until he does, trade rumours will heard and, if he does sign a shorter contract, more chatter will emerge from that.