The Edmonton Oilers have marked a late-season resurgence, sending shockwaves throughout the community with their impressive wins over the Seattle Kraken and the Winnipeg Jets in the last two games. Even when they fell to Kirill Kaprizov’s Minnesota Wild, they did so valiantly. After a conspicuous and painful absence of regulation wins, this was a much-needed comeback for the Oilers.
Like every other team, the Oilers want to make a deep playoff run. The team has consistently maintained a playoff appearance over the last few years, fighting till the very end. This season, it has the added reason to fight: it must secure franchise superstar Connor McDavid.
Connor McDavid’s Future with the Edmonton Oilers Rendered Uncertain by Curious Stat
When Kaprizov signed his contract extension with the Wild after a lengthy period of deliberation, rumors about McDavid-Oilers extension soon gained ground. Many believed the Oilers captain’s subsequent contract with the team would be a staggeringly enormous number that the Edmonton front office would have little choice but to match.
However, bringing Elliotte Friedman’s prophecy to life, who had expected McDavid to offer the Oilers a hometown discount, McDavid signed a shockingly moderate contract. The standout center’s short-term extension provides the Oilers’ brass a lot of flexibility in terms of cap space to create a more well-balanced, competitive roster. However, there is also the nagging feeling that the contract is a ticking time bomb.
While it is true that McDavid wants to win in Edmonton, it would not be a far-fetched idea to imagine him taking his championship aspirations to a different destination if he feels the Oilers fail to give him what he needs. His otherwise unblemished career is lacking a Stanley Cup, one that he undoubtedly deserves to win.
While the consensus is that McDavid will stay in Edmonton, many have linked him to a team closer to home: the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a recent survey by The Athletic, which addresses the question of where the future lies for stars like McDavid and Sidney Crosby, 56.4% of survey-takers believe that McDavid will stay with the Oilers. In comparison, around 10% thought he could join the Leafs’ ranks in the future.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs were the second most popular pick, at 10 percent of the vote. ‘I think he’s going to find his way home’ said one player, who doesn’t play for the Leafs. ‘For better or for worse…’, another added,” as reported by The Athletic’s NHL staff.
Of course, 10% is not a number the Oilers fans need to concern themselves with at the moment. However, notwithstanding the Leafs, more than 43% of the survey-takers believed that McDavid might part ways with Edmonton in the future, linking him with other teams.
However, most believed that McDavid belongs with the Oilers. Despite the two-year contract extension situation, it is hard to imagine the team’s captain playing elsewhere. “I could see him staying around. He’s been there so long now. … I think it all kind of depends on how these next two years go, but I can see him sticking around,” said another player.
It is now up to the Oilers roster to live up to McDavid’s expectations and win the championship he so rightly deserves.
