Connor McDavid’s future with the Edmonton Oilers is about to become the NHL’s hottest topic. The superstar captain can sign a contract extension as soon as July 1, and former Oiler Ryan Whitney thinks McDavid already knows what he’s going to do.
It’s hard to overstate just how incredible McDavid has been. He’s racked up 1,082 points in just 712 games – and he’s doing it in an era when scoring is actually pretty tough to come by.
The numbers are mind-blowing, but they only tell part of the story. That 18-year-old phenom has grown into a complete player who can do it all on the ice, while still making jaws drop with his ridiculous speed and skill.
He’s already got a trophy case that would make most players jealous:
• 3 Hart Memorial Trophies (NHL MVP)
• 5 Art Ross Trophies (scoring leader)
• 4 selections as the players’ choice for most outstanding player
But there’s one piece missing: the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers just got knocked out by Florida for the second straight year, and timing couldn’t be more interesting. McDavid’s current eight-year, $100 million deal has just one season left.
Here’s the big question: Would Edmonton really let another generational talent slip away, like they did with Wayne Gretzky? It seems unlikely. The team made McDavid the league’s highest-paid player seven years ago, and they’ve shown they’re willing to spend big.
Money isn’t the issue here. McDavid could probably name his price in Edmonton.
It all comes down to one thing: Can the Oilers win him a Cup?
There are two ways to look at their recent playoff exits. Maybe the Panthers are just their kryptonite – a super-smart organization with great scouting and the advantage of Florida’s tax laws. Plus, they’ve got Alex Barkov, probably the best defensive center in hockey, who’s perfectly suited to slow McDavid down.
Or maybe there’s a bigger problem: The Oilers are basically McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard plus a bunch of average NHL players.
The truth? It’s probably a bit of both. But there’s one issue that keeps coming up: goaltending.
Stuart Skinner’s .893 playoff save percentage just isn’t cutting it, especially when you compare it to Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky at .915 over the last three postseasons.
McDavid’s shown he can make magic happen with almost any teammates. But without solid goaltending, the Oilers might be watching history repeat itself – and that’s not the Gretzky comparison they want to make.
