Connor McDavid isn’t rushing to sign a new deal with the Edmonton Oilers, and that could make things interesting for the NHL’s best player and his team.
The superstar center wants to hear Edmonton’s plans for building a championship team before committing to his next contract. That’s according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, who says McDavid might not even be looking for the traditional eight-year deal many expected.
It’s a situation that’s got the hockey world buzzing.
McDavid still has another year on his current contract, during which he’s been absolutely incredible. He’s racked up 826 points in just 503 games, including a mind-blowing 153 points last season.
That kind of production puts him in rare company. His 1.52 points per game is the third-highest in NHL history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Pretty impressive company.
But here’s where things get interesting: McDavid’s agent, Judd Moldaver, has a history of signing his star clients to shorter deals. Just look at Auston Matthews’ four-year contract with Toronto last summer.
The Oilers have seen this movie before. Wayne Gretzky, the team’s greatest player, ended up playing for four different teams in his career – even after winning three Stanley Cups in Edmonton.
Several teams are already watching the situation closely. The Los Angeles Kings (who famously grabbed Gretzky from Edmonton), Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, and New York Rangers could all jump at the chance to land McDavid if he becomes available.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Oilers still have time to show McDavid they’re serious about winning. They’ve got some work to do this summer, including signing top defenseman Evan Bouchard to a new contract.
What happens in the next year could make all the difference. Another early playoff exit might make McDavid think twice about staying. But a deep playoff run? That could convince him Edmonton is where he belongs.
Whatever happens, McDavid’s next contract will likely set a new NHL salary record. The only question is which team will be signing those checks.
