Penguins Insider Could See Pittsburgh Being Desirable for Connor McDavid

The hockey world will be watching how Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers fare in 2026-27 very closely, because it could ultimately determine the future of the world’s best player.

A bounce-back season where the Oilers go deep and potentially even win the Stanley Cup, and all will be quiet. Another underwhelming year falling short for a variety of reasons, and we very likely could see McDavid on the move out of Edmonton.

Landing spots like a return home to Toronto or other big markets such as New York or Los Angeles have already been floated, but a recent article in The Athletic by Penguins insider Josh Yohe suggests not to count out Pittsburgh—unlikely as it may be.

Yohe wrote:

“Do I think either one will ever play in Pittsburgh? No. Is it nice for fans to fantasize about? Sure. Would Pittsburgh be pretty high on both of their lists if a trade materialized? I bet it would, especially for McDavid, who has many close friends in nearby Erie, Pa., from his years playing junior hockey there. It’s also only a five-hour drive to his hometown of Toronto. He doesn’t strike me as a guy who wants to play in a huge market, even though he’s from one

Plus, the Penguins do have some real, young talent on the way, loads of cap space, a good general manager and a good coach. The Penguins also do right by their superstars. So, for players like McDavid and Matthews, the Penguins organization has a lot to offer,”

The 29-year-old McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension signed with the Oilers in October begins next season (2026-27) and runs through the 2027-28 campaign.