The Edmonton Oilers are waiting for Connor McDavid to decide what he wants to do in regards to a contract extension. The superstar has one year remaining on his current deal at $12.5 million, but speculation is everywhere about the kind of extension he'll sign.
Even if the Oilers get what they want, which is an eight-year extension that locks McDavid in as the salary cap rises, the organization should give their captain an internal window to win.
McDavid will dictate the terms of his extension and the Oilers will gladly oblige. If he wants two years, Edmonton will sign that extension. If he wants four, they'll do that too. If McDavid has no desire to leave his buddy Leon Draisaitl, and chooses to lock in long-term, the Oilers will say 'Thank you, how much would you like?'
That doesn't mean Edmonton should give McDavid carte blanche to control the narrative in Edmonton when it comes to winning and losing, roster construction, or trade conversations.
Would Trading McDavid Be The End of the Oilers?
During a recent interview on the Empty Netters Podcast, former NHL defenseman James Wisniewski said, “Do you think Edmonton’s going to have a duplicate Wayne Gretzky? Let’s talk about this. I think it’s going to happen.”
Co-host of the show, Dan Powers added, “Edmonton would cease to exist.”
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That's some serious hyperbole there, even if a McDavid trade were to hit the city nearly as hard as the fan base was emotionally stung by the Gretzky trade. Still, at some point, one has to ask, 'When is enough, enough?'
The Oilers Should Consider a McDavid Trade In Year Four
If McDavid signs a long-term deal, the Oilers should be open to the idea that trading McDavid might be the correct play. As hard as it would be to watch another generational talent move on, McDavid's job isn't just to be the best player in the world. The Oilers need him to lead them to another Stanley Cup. If he can't do that in the next four seasons, it will be time to try something else.
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Granted, McDavid may ultimately beat the Oilers to the punch if the organization doesn't win it all. But, if he decides to end his NHL career in Edmonton, the Oilers can't get complacent. Playing with Draisaitl is all well and good, but like the "Core Four" in Toronto, if it doesn't work, there has be change and the Oilers can't be afraid to make it.
McDavid is the best player in the NHL. There is undeniable faith he and the Oilers will get over the hump and win the Stanley Cup while he's in his prime. However, his trade value won't remain outrageously high forever. If the Oilers need to move on and get a Gretzky-like return, that won't happen in the fifth or sixth year of McDavid's extension.
There should be an understanding by both sides, regardless of the length of his contract extension, that winning is of the utmost importance. If it doesn't happen, a sit-down about his future should take place.
The hope in Edmonton is that it never comes to that. At the same time, GM Stan Bowman and the organization need to be pragmatic about their expectations.
The biggest contract in the NHL has to come with some responsibility. In other words, the Oilers should say, 'We'll give you want you want, for however long you want. But, you've got four years to lead us to a Cup. If that doesn't happen, let's both agree that we'll talk about your future and the direction of this team.'
What Is The Risk In Having This Conversation With McDavid?
Do the Oilers have the stones to tell McDavid that his new extension comes with strings attached? It seems risky to do so, given that he could wait if he doesn't like what's said and bolt as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season. At the same time, McDavid seems to be the kind of player who is already putting that pressure on his shoulders.
He said at the end of the season, “If I feel that there’s a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem.” What he didn't mention was that he's arguably the biggest factor in the Oilers' ability to win. Yes, the team around him needs to be championship material. However, regardless of who is on the roster, everyone follows his lead.
The Oilers go as McDavid goes. If he can't lead this team to where it needs to go in a reasonable amount of time, both sides can't be afraid to have that difficult conversation.
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