Potential contract offer for Connor McDavid exposed as concern grows in Edmonton

For several weeks now, Edmonton Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid has been eligible to sign a contract extension. However, with a second consecutive loss of the Stanley Cup this past June, some insiders have been wondering if McDavid will look to stay put in Edmonton.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that Oilers general manager Stan Bowman and CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson travelled to Ontario to meet with McDavid’s agent Judd Moldaver, and tough questions were asked about the future in Edmonton.

Which pretty much means when are the Oilers getting that darn Stanley Cup.

This could explain why more and more, insiders are reporting that a contract offer that’d be accepted by McDavid would include a shorter term. Just recently, David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period hinted at the speculation that McDavid could sign a four or five-year contract extension with the Oilers, at a $16M or $17M AAV.

In his exit interview after another Cup Final loss, McDavid admitted he will take some time to accept losing his second consecutive Stanley Cup Final before turning his attention to a potential contract extension. He will be 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…

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 entered this off-season with just under $12 million in cap space to play with, right before getting a massive extension done with restricted free agent blue liner Evan Bouchard.

Per Puck Pedia, the Oilers now have $225,834 in current projected cap space.