Staying in Edmonton - Connor McDavid Signs a 2 Year Contract

By: Ilsa Schrag 10/15/25

Connor McDavid in a game against the Dallas Stars

Connor McDavid is entering the final season of his contract with the Edmonton Oilers, and he settled the biggest question looming over the NHL when he signed a two-year, $25 million contract extension to stay in Edmonton through 2028. The deal carries a $12.5 million average annual value and signals that the league’s top player still believes the Edmonton Oilers franchise can deliver a Stanley Cup.

McDavid’s resume is already staggering. He’s a four-time winner of the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league’s Most Valuable Player, and has captured the Art Ross Trophy five times as the NHL’s leading scorer. In 2023–24, he became just the fourth player in league history to record 100 assists in a single season, joining legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. He’s also earned multiple Ted Lindsay Awards, voted by his peers as the NHL’s most outstanding player. The only thing that's missing is a Stanley Cup.

After the Oilers made it to two consecutive Cup Finals and lost both to the Florida Panthers, they now bear the weight of raised expectations. There is no question that Connor McDavid can win the Stanley Cup, the question is if the Oilers organization can build a team to support him and achieve their goal.

McDavid’s previous deal, an eight-year, $100 million contract signed in July 2017, was set to expire after the 2025–26 season and open the possibility of free agency. Because he had emphasized that he would take his time on the next deal, many wondered whether he would remain in Edmonton or test his value on the free agent market. “ All options are on the table,” he told reporters earlier this season. It seemed that what mattered most to the superstar was winning a Stanley Cup and he told the world he believed the Oilers could win in the near future.

It is a financially intriguing deal because McDavid opted not to negotiate for a higher AAV. By keeping the same $12.5 million contract, he gives Edmonton cap flexibility and the ability to invest in supporting pieces. However, a two-year term puts a firm deadline; if Edmonton cannot win a Cup in that window, McDavid will again have freedom in free agency. Also, because his teammate Leon Draisaitl is locked into an eight-year , $112 million contract signed in 2024, the Oilers already face significant cap burdens. That deal, while deserved, could complicate their ability to build around both superstars.

The challenge for Edmonton is clearer than ever: they must build a roster capable of delivering a Stanley cup during McDavid’s newly defined window. That means strengthening defense and goaltending and giving McDavid the support he needs to finally win a championship.

If Edmonton stumbles again, the question of whether McDavid should leave will grow louder. He has already proven his greatness individually, now the task is on the organization to match that with a championship roster.