Latest report shows Connor McDavid is putting the Oilers in a bigger bind than ever

It sure looks like the Edmonton Oilers are sitting at one of the most important crossroads in franchise history, and it all comes down to Connor McDavid.

According to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, at least one league source believes uncertainty around a short-term contract could discourage high-profile players from signing with the Oilers. Nugent-Bowman writes:

“One league source noted that the uncertainty with a short-term contract could discourage some higher-profile players from signing with the Oilers. The source added that management would have to consider how any decision could impact McDavid — even more so than now.”

Later on he adds: “It all seems like doom and gloom for the Oilers. Either McDavid walks, or there’s the potential for him to put the team in just as big a bind as it’s in now, if not a bigger one.”

That’s because nobody wants to commit to a team if there’s a chance its best player, and arguably the best player in the world, might not be sticking around much longer.

That uncertainty doesn’t just affect free agents. The report adds that management would have to weigh how every decision impacts McDavid, even more so than it already does. In other words: the Oilers are already living and dying by their captain’s future, and the stakes may be about to rise.

Here’s the nightmare scenario: either McDavid walks away, or he signs short term, which could actually be just as devastating. A walk would gut the franchise outright, especially if the Oilers lose their captain for absolutely nothing! A short deal could keep the Oilers in limbo, forcing them to operate under a constant cloud of doubt, year after year.

Right now, it feels like doom and gloom in Edmonton, as Nugent-Bowman puts it. The team has a strong core, but McDavid’s future hovers over everything. Every roster move, every free-agent pitch, every internal decision gets filtered through the same question: what does this mean for Connor?

For now, the only certainty is that the Oilers’ front office is staring down a no-win situation. If McDavid leaves, the franchise faces a tough reset. If he stays short term, they could be right back here again or worse…

With the contract negotiations ongoing with the 2025-26 season around the corner, you just know this is going to be the talk of the town, nay of the league, until it gets settled.