Connor McDavid has yet to finalize a contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers as he enters the final year of his current eight-year, $100 million deal. Eligible to sign since July 1, discussions about a new contract focus on not just if he will re-sign, but also how long the extension might last.
Despite having stars like McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers have not captured the Stanley Cup in eight years. The team came close in the last two seasons but was ultimately outmatched by the Florida Panthers’ depth. Meanwhile, Draisaitl has already secured his future with an eight-year, $112 million extension beginning this season. Expectations are that McDavid may opt for a shorter-term contract, reflecting uncertainty about the team’s championship prospects.
Debate Among Former Players about McDavid’s Contract Outlook
On a recent episode of TSN’s Overdrive, Jim Tatti, Jason Strudwick, and Dave Feschuk examined the possibility of McDavid following a strategy similar to NBA superstar LeBron James. Known for not committing long-term to any single team, LeBron’s approach aims to maintain flexibility in pursuit of titles.
Jason Strudwick argued that a shorter deal could serve as motivation for the Oilers to strive for a championship, though he questioned the reasoning behind the idea that long-term security would reduce drive.
“Oh, yeah. And I understand it. Like, I get where that’s coming from, but I mean, why wouldn’t you try to win when you have LeBron or Connor McDavid? I don’t really understand that logic. Maybe the other people have suggestions of or examples of players that have been misused by teams,” Strudwick said (Timestamp- 3:50 onwards).
When the conversation turned to alternatives for McDavid if Edmonton fails to win, Strudwick acknowledged the challenges of predicting where a player of McDavid’s caliber could guarantee success.
“Maybe they can’t win, Strudwick. Maybe that’s the thing, like if he can’t win here, maybe he’s got to go somewhere else,” Feschuk said.
“But then, where is that? I think that’s a hard game to play, too, right? ‘We’re going to go here,'” Strudwick added.
NHL Analyst Sees No Pressure from a Long-Term Commitment
Allan Mitchell of The Athletic offered a contrasting viewpoint, arguing that signing McDavid to a long-term contract would not burden either the player or the Oilers organization. He suggests that the franchise should be prepared to back its captain for a decade or more to come.
“That inevitability means an eight-year deal is far more likely to secure a decade of brilliance. … Instead of worrying about regression, Oilers fans should see such a contract as great news, a commitment that ensures the NHL’s most dominant player remains in Edmonton through his prime and beyond,” Mitchell wrote.
Mitchell drew parallels to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ situation with Sidney Crosby, noting how Crosby and the team have struggled competitively near the end of his career. Unlike Pittsburgh, Edmonton has structured its roster to build around McDavid, providing hope that a positive outcome will follow the contract extension.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding McDavid’s contract length underlines the broader challenge faced by elite athletes who aim to balance personal ambition with team success. Whether McDavid follows a short-term path like LeBron James or commits for the long haul will have significant implications for the Oilers’ future and their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.