Oilers Insider Confident McDavid Will Commit Long-Term in Edmonton

Connor McDavid is expected to remain with the Edmonton Oilers long-term, according to team insider Bob Stauffer. Despite ongoing speculation about the 29-year-old’s future, Stauffer believes McDavid and fellow star Leon Draisaitl are fully committed to the franchise. The Oilers are also preparing for a new era under potential new head coach Mike Babcock.

Stauffer made his comments in a recent report, where he stated that McDavid is likely to sign a seven-year contract extension when the time comes. The seven-year term is the maximum allowable under the NHL’s new CBA, which came into effect in 2027. Stauffer emphasized that player empowerment is becoming a bigger factor in key decisions, a trend already seen in the NBA and now gaining traction in hockey.

McDavid is currently in the first year of a two-year, $25 million contract extension he signed in October 2025. That deal will keep him in Edmonton through the 2027-28 season. The upcoming season will be critical for the Oilers, who have yet to win a Stanley Cup despite years of playoff appearances and elite talent.

Stauffer said:

“I don’t think there’s anybody more committed to Edmonton than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, OK? I expect the next Connor McDavid signing to be a seven-year extension, and I remind your viewers that that’s the max length here with the little adjustment made to the CBA starting in ‘27. It would be a seven-year extension. So you know what, you empower the players to be involved in key decisions, that’s the way of the future, it’s already been occurring for years in the NBA…

You know, I’m gonna guess here, if I’m sitting here telling you that from ownership to management to the players, that everybody’s 100% on board with Mike Babcock, you probably know the level of engagement with the Oilers’ top players.”

The Oilers are also finalizing plans around the future of key defenseman Darnell Nurse. Nurse, who is entering the final year of his contract, is expected to be a focal point in the team’s upcoming roster decisions.

With a new coach on the horizon and a core of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nurse in place, the Oilers are building toward another Stanley Cup run. McDavid’s potential long-term commitment could give the team and its fans the stability they need to chase that elusive title.

The 2026-27 season will be the key test. If the Oilers can make a deep playoff run, McDavid’s decision to stay long-term becomes even more likely. If not, the pressure on management to make changes will only grow.