Panic In Edmonton? Connor McDavid Leaves His Contract Future Up In The Air: 'No Rush'

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Connor McDavid (and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers) met with the media on locker cleanout day, and with the sport's greatest player eligible for a contract extension as of July 1, much of the talk was focused on that. When will you sign? What will it take? What are you waiting for? Plenty of questions about his future with the Oilers after coming away from two straight Stanley Cup Finals without a ring. 

But his answers certainly didn't soothe anyone in Oil Country. In fact, maybe it even sparked a bit of panic.

"It’s only been a couple days since the season ended. You know, take some time to regroup. You know, talk to my agent a little bit and family and all that, and make some decisions whenever that time comes. But there’s no rush, no rush on anything like that." 

He went one step further by adding a caveat, so to speak, on his willingness to re-sign in Edmonton for the long term:  

"Winning would be at the top of the list… It’s the most important thing. If I feel that there’s a good window to win here, over and over again, then signing is no problem, Yeah, again, it’s only been a couple of days. I’m sure we’ll get into it over the course the next couple of weeks. But again, I’m not in a rush to make any decision."

There was also the one ominous comment that he threw in, in the middle of another answer:

McDavid says he needs 'to do what’s best for me and my family'

"We’re all in this together, trying to get it over that finish line. With that being said, ultimately, still need to do what’s best for me and my family. That’s who you have to take care of first."

Hmmm. This could be a nervous summer in Edmonton. 

But David Staples of the Edmonton Journal is looking to be the calm voice in the room for Oilers fans, summing it all up today thusly:

"You’ll no doubt notice that McDavid puts himself and his family ahead of the team and the fans in his decision making, and makes it clear he’s not yet fully decided on his future. If you’re prone to catastrophizing, go ahead and fill your doomer boots," wrote Staples.

"But what kind of person would not put himself and his family first?

"It’s no surprise after a bitter loss to Florida, and a summer of 2024 where Oilers management was guilty of a major strategic blunder (the Offer Sheet Fiasco that lost them Philip Broberg & Dylan Holloway to the Blues), that he would question the Oilers organization.

"How about have some patience for the man? Maybe let him catch his breath? He’ll make the right decision in good time."

Take a deep breath, Oilers fans.

McDavid has one year left on his contract, and could become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2026 if nothing is signed before then.  

Watch his full media availability here:

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