The Edmonton Oilers are still reeling from losing their second-straight Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers. They had their lockout cleanout day on Thursday, and there was ensuing media availability. The Oilers captain and the NHL's top scorer Connor McDavid made the most consequential quote of the day, and it could change how the other 31 teams operate.
That seems extreme, but Connor McDavid becoming available in a world where the cap is going up exponentially has teams thinking anything is possible. The only tie Connor McDavid has to Edmonton is he was drafted there, and he could prioritize a bigger market or a simpler fanbase.
Most expected him to just re-sign in Edmonton for a billion dollars, but then he spoke on Thursday. His comments, while brief on the subject, held a ton of weight.
"We're holding this together, trying to get it over the finish line. With that being said, ultimately still need to do what's best for me and my family, and that's who you have to take care of first."
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 19, 2025
Connor McDavid discusses 'unfinished business' with this Oilers team. pic.twitter.com/0HDtCT83ab
The pivot to discussing doing what's best "for his family" at least shows he is going to put those around him first. He's the best player in the NHL. He will be paid extremely well on his next deal. Yet, this can go one of a few ways. He's eligible to re-sign on July 1st, but he could wait it out.
McDavid might be done with the heartbreak that comes with Edmonton. He's had to answer questions about their failed seasons, a GM who has a dark history with the Chicago Blackhawks, a goalie situation that's never been solved for his entire career, and now that they finally have an amazing core around him, they might be forced to ask him to take a pay cut to fit everything else they are trying to do.
He could sign a massive eight-year extension that pays him close to the maximum salary. The Oilers are currently slated to have $64 million available cap space next season, so they can afford whatever he wants.
McDavid could also sign for two or three years and let the salary cap rise even more. If he's learned anything from the NFL or NBA, it's that the top players keep seeing their salary double and triple. Could McDavid be the first player to make $25 million a year? He definitely won't if he signs for eight years now.
Why was Connor McDavid non-committal during his end-of-season comments?
Now, we must say, the conversation around these comments are going to be overblown, but at the same time, this isn't nothing. McDavid said this for a reason, and he knew what he was doing. It might be because the Oilers aren't hitting his number, which is going to be astronomical. It also might be a message to Edmonton brass to give him and Leon Draisaitl the pieces to deliver a Stanley Cup to the city.
On the other hand, it might just be how he feels. He might not want to lie to the press, and that might be his best route to talk around what he thinks is about to happen. There's a long time from now until July 1, 2026. He has one more year left on his contract, and things can change 100 times between now and then.
Still, teams will be preparing starting now if they think they have a realistic shot to get Connor McDavid. He is worth a full year of preparation. The Devils are in a unique position where McDavid wouldn't be the biggest need, but they would still push all their chips on the table to get him. He's probably looking at bigger markets and better situations, but the opportunity to play next to Jack Hughes, moving him to the wing, might actually make sense for him. If the Devils also add Quinn Hughes via trade, then this might be the 2026 version of The Decision.
Of course, the Devils are going to start very low on McDavid's priority list. We'd be floored if Tom Fitzgerald (or whoever is doing negotiations then) gets a meeting with his agents. However, we're working in a world where anything is possible, and this is also discussing the impact a free agent Connor McDavid would have.
This is actually very similar to the years that led up to The Decision. For those who aren't basketball fans, LeBron James became a free agent in the 2010 offseason. Teams like the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and Chicago Bulls created space on their payroll with an expectation to go after James and the other huge free agents that season. James went on ESPN and announced his free agent destination, which ended up being the Miami Heat.
We don't expect McDavid to host a TV show around breaking the hearts of a majority of Alberta, but there will be moves leading up to that. Teams like the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers might avoid certain deals so they can have the room to give McDavid north of $16 million per season.
McDavid isn't going to the Devils. We think Gary Bettman might jump into the way of that bullet. However, his comments on Thursday will change teams' actions as soon as this offseason, possibly including the New York Rangers.