McDavid sparks panic in Edmonton after contract comments.

The City of Edmonton has just been sent into a panic.

Earlier this week Edmonton Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson sounded supremely confident about getting a new deal worked out with Oilers captain Connor McDavid, but now recent comments from McDavid himself have left many wondering if that confidence was entirely misplaced.

Although McDavid did reiterate his desire to win in Edmonton, those would not be the only comments he would make on the day.

"I have every intention to win in Edmonton," said McDavid on Wednesday. "It is my intention to win there."

When he was pressed on the possibility of coming into the season without a contract however, McDavid did admit that there was indeed a possibility that he would not sign before the start of the season.

"I would say all options are on the table really," admitted McDavid. "As I said we are going through it and I don't have a preference either way."

It is this part of his response on Wednesday that has caused all the stir, with fans now concerned that McDavid could potentially force his way out of Edmonton in the final year of his current deal. McDavid will be entering the final year of an 8 year contract this season and would be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season should the Oilers fail to come to an agreement on a new deal.

Losing McDavid would obviously be a devastating blow to the Oilers franchise as a whole, so devastating in fact that it would elicit immediate comparisons to the departure of former Edmonton Oiler Wayne Gretzky in the eyes and minds of many long time fans of the National Hockey League.

McDavid is coming off of his 5th consecutive 100+ point season with the Oilers and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a player the Oilers could never hope to replace in their lineup.

All the pressure now appears to be on the Oilers front office to make sure a deal gets done.

You can hear some of McDavid's comments from today in the short clip below.