McDavid’s future is the Oilers’ biggest gambling since Gretzky – Hockey writer – Edmonton Oilers
Connor McDavid is not only a player with an expiration contract. He is the best hockey player on the planet, the face of the Edmonton Oilers and perhaps the most talented skater we’ve ever met. So when the whisper starts to say whether he will re-sign, short-term or long-term signature, it’s not only about the oiler. It’s about the entire NHL.
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McDavid’s contract is the biggest story of hockey, and in the video below, Frank Seravalli doesn’t shy away from it. He joined Kyper and Bourne, breaking down how the deal in Kirill Kaprizov affected talks in Edmonton, what would happen if McDavid stayed unsigned in the Oct. 8 season opener.
That’s why the signature of each angle, no matter how long he signed it, or the oil man should consider trading his signature – forging such a person with the weight of a franchise. The truth is, Edmonton stared at the highest bet Wayne Gretzky has faced since the trade.
If McDavid signs a short-term deal, that would be an important statement
Most NHL stars chase safety: eight years of deals, life-changing money, and ensuring stability. McDavid can have a heartbeat. However, some insiders believe he might choose a shorter contract, perhaps two or three years.
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Why? Not because he needs more money (he doesn’t), but because it gives him flexibility. It allows him to see if the Oiler can continue to build a Stanley Cup contender around him. It also forces management to remain aggressive. The short deal is a message: “I’m here, but as long as you stick to the bargaining.” It’s both shocking and terrifying for Edmonton and the Oilers fans.
What if McDavid doesn’t sign the contract as soon as possible?
This is where things get interesting. If McDavid didn’t sign the extension before the start of the season, nothing really changed, at least not immediately. As Seravalli notes, a random date in October is no more important than a date in February or June.
But this means uncertainty. Every game, every media chaos, every oilman loses a winning streak, will have the same question: “Does McDavid stay?” This noise will cause losses to the team. It can also define a season, but in which way do you know?
NHL Trade Deadline Fantasy
Fans like to abandon trade deadlines. Nick Kypreos asked what to do if the Dallas star offered Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz? What if the New York Rangers call with a lot of draft picks and prospects?
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Seravalli does not blink: You do not trade McDavid. If you’re in Edmonton, that’s not. If you have established an entire franchise identity around him, it is not. Instead, the oiler would rather ride out, chase the Stanley Cup and seize the opportunity rather than flip the best hockey player into a packaging that will never be measured.
Yes, it’s a gamble, but it’s right. Because the moment you move McDavid, you’re no longer an oiler. You are just another rebuilding team.
NHL players’ league and players
Another wrinkle: NHL Players Association (NHLPA). Kaprizov’s recent contract sets a new salary bar, and United Voice is happy to see McDavid raise it. This is great for every player when the top players of the game make money.
But does McDavid care about the highest salary? Probably not. Like Sidney Crosby, he is wired differently. Winning a win against McDavid is more important than being the highest-paid player. If that means Edmonton can build the kind of roster that gives him another shot in the Stanley Cup, he might even put the money on the table.
This decision won’t make the agent or union happy, but who is McDavid. This will make him and the Oilers fans more like Edmonton heroes.
Edmonton’s big gambling with McDavid
So, what does this mean? This means that oil people have risks every day. If McDavid re-signs it is gold. If he doesn’t, they’re playing chicken with the hockey gods, hoping the deep playoff run will convince him to stay.
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It’s not an easy place to enter, but maybe it’s the only place they can get in because you won’t push McDavid away. You believe in him. You try to win with him and hope that the victory is enough to convince him that Edmonton is still the right place for him.
It’s not just the numbers in the contract. It’s about the future of heritage, identity and the entire franchise. Oil people know. McDavid knew. Every hockey fan should also know: The next step in this story can reshape the NHL.
