Connor McDavid’s future with the Edmonton Oilers remains uncertain as the NHL superstar enters the final year of his contract, sparking league-wide speculation about where he might land in 2026.
The 28-year-old center hasn’t signed an extension yet, and that’s got plenty of teams paying attention – including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Just like 15 other teams around the NHL, until Connor makes his decision, there are teams that are gonna want to know, ‘Do we have to keep our powder dry for the summer of 2026?'” says TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. “The Leafs are among them.”
There’s a pretty interesting twist to this story that’s got people talking. McDavid’s recent comments sound eerily similar to what Mitch Marner said before he left the Vegas Golden Knights for Toronto.
Here’s what’s catching everyone’s attention:
Back in September 2024, Marner played it cool about his future. “It’s another year of wanting to be the best you can be and help this team win hockey games,” he said at the time. He talked about focusing on the game, not contracts.
Now, McDavid’s singing the same tune.
“I’ll take my time and go through everything. I have every intention of winning in Edmonton. It’s my only focus,” he told Sportsnet in late August.
He even tried to brush off contract talk: “I want the group to be as focused and dialed in and ready to roll from Day 1 as much as possible, and we don’t need any distractions.”
But here’s the thing – the contract situation is already a huge distraction. Every game, every interview, every move McDavid makes is being watched for signs about his future.
And if history’s any guide, these kinds of carefully worded statements often mean a player’s got one foot out the door.
The hockey world will be watching closely to see if one of the game’s biggest stars will still be wearing Oilers orange and blue after 2026.
