'Not Something That I Take Lightly,' Oilers Captain Connor McDavid Weighing up Every Option Before Making Contract Decision

Connor McDavid once again spoke regarding his future. On Friday, the Edmonton Oilers captain claimed that his next contract decision is not something that he or his family is taking lightly. The 7-time NHL All-Star put pen to paper on an 8-year, $100 million contract in 2017. This saw him become one of the highest-paid players in the league with an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $12.5 million.

McDavid is now in the final year of this deal with the Oilers. If he does not sign an extension and decides to run out his deal, he will become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) in July 2026. With him being one of the modern-day greats, the Oilers do not want to lose their cornerstone.

The Canadian international, though, is in no hurry to sign a new deal yet. Recently, the forward opened up about his future and expressed his commitment to his future in Edmonton and winning things in this city. The Oilers have not won the Stanley Cup since their triumph in 1990. They have reached the finals in each of the last two seasons. However, they suffered back-to-back losses against the Florida Panthers.

McDavid, who joined the team in 2015 as the No.1 draft pick, has already spent 10 years in Edmonton. The upcoming season would be his 11th year representing the Oilers. The 3-time NHL MVP is reportedly open to signing a short-term deal instead of a long one.

While speaking with the reporters after the practice on Friday, the 28-year-old expressed that he will take his time with his decision.

When you’re trying to plan the next three, four, seven, nine years of your life, you don’t just dream it up in one day, you take your time, talk it over, think about it some more, talk it over again. It’s not something that I take lightly, it’s not something that my family takes lightly. I’ve put everything I have into my career, just like everybody here. You only get one chance to do it and to do it right and that leads to taking your time with it and that’s where it’s at.

Connor McDavid told the reporters