Connor McDavid says future in Edmonton "remains to be seen" beyond 2025-26

It might be time for the Edmonton Oilers to start worrying a little bit.

All along, it's felt as if Captain Connor McDavid would have already or would soon sign an extension to remain in Edmonton for the long or at the very least the short term. 

The world's best player has spent his entire NHL career as an Oiler, and the expectation was that would remain the case for the foreseeable future. However, we're now over two months removed from McDavid becoming eligible to sign an extension, and the superstar center is in no rush, unwilling to commit to anything.

While the most likely outcome is still that McDavid re-signs in Edmonton, the days keep going by, and a contract agreement doesn't appear to be getting any closer. Combine that with his latest comments in a sit-down interview with Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, and it's starting to get tense in Oil Country. 

Nick Alberga of The Leafs Nation shared a clip with some of the interview on X (formerly Twitter).

"I think people just kind of assumed that things were going to happen. I think it just goes to show that not everybody knows exactly what's going on. My wife and I obviously love being here in Edmonton, and we have every intention, as I said, to win here in Edmonton. And I have all the faith in the world in this 2025-26 season; beyond that still remains to be seen. We have time; it's our decision basically. We've earned that, and we're going to take our time with it," McDavid said.

The 28-year-old is about to enter the final season of the eight-year, $100 million contract extension he signed with the Oilers back in 2017.

Everything depends on 2025-26

Connor McDavid said it himself; he's all in to win in Edmonton for 2025-26; no confirmation beyond that.

He's come so close to capturing a Stanley Cup with the Oilers, but does he believe they've reached their ceiling? Back-to-back losses in the finals are gut-wrenching, and it's not easy to even make it in two consecutive years, let alone a third.

Edmonton is set up to contend again this year, though the wear and tear of playing so much extra hockey will eventually catch up, and it feels like McDavid knows that too. 

One way or another, the pressure is mounting, and how the 2025-26 season goes for the Edmonton Oilers could decide the fate of where one of the best players we've ever seen lace up the skates continues his career.