McDavid on Contract Status: “No Real Updates”
As the Edmonton Oilers kicked off training camp, Connor McDavid addressed ongoing speculation about his contract, stating that there’s been no significant movement. “Nothing’s really changed,” the Oilers captain said Thursday, adding that while discussions are happening, there’s little to report at this stage. “We think about it, we talk about it, gauge where we’re at… but I’m just excited to be here and get going.”
McDavid, set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, has been at the center of off-season headlines due to his expiring eight-year, $100 million contract signed in 2017. Despite the uncertainty, he appeared energized by the start of camp, calling Thursday’s session “the best practice we’ve had in a long, long, long time.” He also acknowledged that the team felt “a little stale” last season and credited the influx of younger players for injecting fresh energy.
While McDavid’s contract situation could potentially become a distraction, Oilers GM Stan Bowman remains optimistic. “I go by what Connor says, and he’s been clear—he wants to win in Edmonton,” Bowman told reporters. “I trust his word.”
McDavid, a three-time Hart Trophy winner and five-time league scoring leader, has yet to commit to an extension. TSN’s Chris Johnston emphasized that the pace of negotiations is entirely McDavid’s to set. “He’s still evaluating the roster, the contract structure, and how things evolve this season,” Johnston said.
Notably, McDavid earned the Conn Smythe Trophy two seasons ago despite Edmonton falling short in the Stanley Cup Final—only the sixth time in NHL history that the award went to a player from the losing team.
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