Some have speculated that Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid may eventually leave the team. With the Oilers losing in back-to-back Stanley Cup finals, it’d be tough to justify, but anything is possible nowadays.
For McDavid, one of the greatest players to ever lace them up, he has a legacy to continue building in Edmonton.
However, if the top player in the league eventually wants to move on, it’s possible that the Oilers will lose him in free agency when the time comes, which will be after the 2026 season.
When examining how things could play out, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic recently noted that there’s a chance McDavid may not think the Oilers are set up to contend in the future. If that’s the case, a short list of teams could potentially add him.
“Of course, there’s always the small chance McDavid doesn’t think the Oilers are set up to remain a contender and doesn’t extend. I don’t think that’s the likeliest outcome, but it’s not 100 percent off the table,” LeBrun wrote.
“Teams like the Los Angeles Kings, with former Oilers GM Ken Holland, are keeping a close eye. If and when McDavid ever leaves, it’s a short list of markets that I believe would be a fit for him: L.A., the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Dallas Stars, etc. It would not be a free-for-all, with 25 teams getting a chance at it.”
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Losing McDavid would be a disaster, so the Oilers must do whatever it takes to ensure that they keep their best player around.
Whether it be trading some of their top players to get creative, shedding salary to make other moves, or doing anything else, they absolutely can’t lose McDavid.
