Connor McDavid may be looking elsewhere if the Edmonton Oilers don’t make significant roster upgrades this offseason. After a six-game first-round playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks in 2026, the two-time NHL MVP is growing impatient with the team's direction. With McDavid entering the first year of a two-year, $25 million contract extension, the pressure is on for Edmonton to make bold moves.
McDavid, 29, is in the final stretch of his prime and won’t wait forever for a title. His teammate and fellow superstar, Leon Draisaitl, was equally vocal about the need for change after the early playoff exit. Draisaitl, who tallied 96 points (27 goals, 69 assists) in the regular season, has become a key figure in any potential trade talks.
Insider David Pagnotta confirmed the urgency: “A similar situation is unfolding in Edmonton. The Oilers are in win-now mode as Connor McDavid enters his two-year contract extension starting July 1, so this is about far more than simple tinkering with the roster. McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl made it clear this season that the Oilers need meaningful improvements. Otherwise, there is a sense that McDavid’s future in Edmonton may not extend beyond the 2027-28 season.”
The Ducks, who shocked the Oilers in the first round, finished the regular season with 92 points, just 11 behind Edmonton. That narrow gap exposed the Oilers’ lack of depth and defensive consistency. Edmonton’s power play, which ranked 10th in the league at 23.4%, was a key asset but failed in the playoffs, scoring only one goal in 12 opportunities.
With the 2026 NHL draft and free agency approaching, the Oilers have a small window to act. Their cap space is projected at $17.4 million, giving them room to add a top-four defenseman or a proven top-six forward. Potential targets include pending unrestricted free agents like Ryan O’Reilly and Taylor Hall, or trade assets from teams in rebuild mode.
If Edmonton doesn’t deliver a Stanley Cup contender by the start of next season, McDavid could test the trade market in 2027. That would leave the Oilers in a precarious position, as Draisaitl is also set to become a free agent that summer. The team must decide quickly whether to spend or rebuild.
The Oilers have until July 1 to finalize their roster moves. What they do next could determine the franchise’s future for years to come.
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