What’s next for Connor McDavid? How first-round loss to Ducks impacts star’s future with Oilers

What’s next for Connor McDavid? How first-round loss to Ducks impacts star’s future with Oilers initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Edmonton Oilers fell brief in a disappointing playoff exhibiting, shedding to the Anaheim Ducks within the first spherical of the playoffs.

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The Oilers got here shut to profitable the Stanley Cup during the last two years and entered 2026 with expectations of returning to the Final. However, Edmonton as soon as once more had goaltending issues and could not resolve its defensive points regardless of using Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

The focus for Edmonton now turns to the offseason, because the Oilers have to discover a manner to break by in McDavid’s prime. Here’s a take a look at what’s next for the Oilers.

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What’s next for Connor McDavid?

For the primary time since 2021, McDavid was eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs, which can give him a for much longer time to relaxation. In the earlier two years, McDavid and the Oilers performed within the Stanley Cup Final, which led to shorter offseasons and fast turnarounds.

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Now, McDavid may have time to take into consideration his future and the way the Oilers can strategy the ultimate two years of their deal. The celebrity ahead was set to hit free company this offseason however determined to signal an extension to give himself extra time in Edmonton.

However, the clock is ticking on McDavid’s time with the Oilers. It is probably going that McDavid will need out at some point if the Oilers cannot recover from the Stanley Cup Final hurdle.

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Connor McDavid contract

McDavid has two years left on his contract after he signed a two-year, $25 million extension with the Oilers final 12 months. The star heart had an eight-year, $100 million deal that expired this season, however determined to re-sign for the 2 years at an affordable $12.5 million per 12 months.

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McDavid may have gotten. a increase, however as a substitute signed for the identical AAV that he had revamped the previous eight seasons. When signing the extension, McDavid’s intention was to depart cash on the desk and permit the Oilers to spend the cash elsewhere.

“Obviously, the feeling was I was going to get some raise,” McDavid mentioned, via The Athletic. “The money they’ve gotten back is money they can go spend. That was the feeling.”

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Will Connor McDavid request a commerce?

McDavid has not proven any want to request a commerce from the Oilers. However, the contract that McDavid signed makes it extra seemingly that he’ll at the least take into consideration his future in Edmonton.

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With his contract set to expire this 12 months, McDavid signed a two-year extension with the Oilers as a substitute of going with a longer-term deal. That permits McDavid to attain free company in 2028 on the age of 32 and offers him extra management over his future.

As McDavid may have signed for greater than $12.5 million, his comparatively wage and short-term contract would enable extra commerce suitors to try to commerce for him if he decides he needs out fairly.

Highest paid NHL gamers

McDavid would be the fifth-highest paid participant within the NHL in 2026-27, when his extension formally begins.