Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid may think twice about re-signing in Oil Country amid the fallout of his team’s second-straight crushing defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers.
The prevailing sentiment among NHL circles is that McDavid may hold on a bit longer to sign an extension with the Oilers. He’s eligible to do so on July 1 but may choose to wait.
TSN analyst Bryan Hayes discussed why McDavid could balk at signing an extension with Edmonton during the June 18 edition of Hot Takes.
When Hayes was asked about his thoughts regarding the possibility of Connor McDavid passing on an extension this summer, he replied:
“I think it’s certainly possible. It doesn’t mean he’s not going to stay in Edmonton long-term. It’s almost that he would look at this and say, ‘What do I have to do this for this summer?’”
Hayes’ comments underscore the lack of urgency on McDavid’s part to get an extension done. As Hayes noted, the Oilers will do whatever it takes to keep McDavid in the fold. If anything, the onus is on the Oilers to get better in order to convince McDavid to stay.
To this point, Hayes added:
“He could take a page out of the books of other great players in other sports, like LeBron James, like other greats in other sports, put some pressure on the Oilers, force them to continue to be desperate, force them to continue to make moves that will help him and help his cause to win a Stanley Cup.”
Check out the discussion from the 4:00 mark on:
Ultimately, Hayes believes that Connor McDavid will stay in Edmonton. The money will always be there for him. But it’s up to the Oilers to find a way to win or McDavid might just consider leaving Edmonton after all.
Connor McDavid Unhappiness in Edmonton Could Signal Trouble
As part of the fallout from the Oilers’ loss in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Connor McDavid was vocal about his unhappiness with the way the team handled its game plan against the Panthers.
Sports Illustrated quoted McDavid as stating:
“I mean obviously their forecheck was great. They tilted the rink. They were able to stay on top of us all over the place. Never really able to generate any momentum up the ice.” McDavid added, “We kept f—— trying the same thing over and over. Just banging our heads against the wall. Credit to them. They played well.”
McDavid’s comments underscore how he felt as the Oilers ran out of ideas in trying to overcome the Panthers’ relentless forechecking.
That seeming lack of direction could breed frustration in McDavid that, if unaddressed this upcoming season, could fester. If so, McDavid may look elsewhere to find a team that can give him a chance to win a Cup.
Online Chatter Links Connor McDavid to Toronto Maple Leafs
Given McDavid’s apparent lack of willingness to re-sign with the Oilers at present, online chatter has gone into overdrive. Said chatter has centered on the possibility of McDavid leaving Edmonton to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs next summer.
Those rumblings are unsubstantiated at best. Credible insiders like Elliotte Friedman or Chris Johnston have yet to come out and provide some meat to the rumors.
The speculation involving McDavid moving to Toronto is founded on McDavid being from the Toronto area. While the Leafs would be McDavid’s “hometown” team, the fact is that McDavid joining the Leafs is a dream for now.
Of course, things can change at the drop of a hat. One bad season from the Oilers and a remarkable playoff run by the Leafs could spark a change in Connor McDavid’s mind.
But for now, McDavid to Toronto rumors are nothing more than hypothetical.
Analyst Believes Connor McDavid May Balk at Re-Signing with Oilers