- Oilers insider Bob Stauffer expects Connor McDavid’s next contract to be a seven-year extension in Edmonton
- McDavid has two years left on his current deal and can sign again as soon as next summer
- Read below for what Stauffer said and how the timeline shakes out
Bob Stauffer isn’t sweating Connor McDavid’s future in Edmonton.
The Oilers insider went on Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Tuesday and predicted McDavid’s next contract will be a seven-year extension that keeps the captain in Edmonton for the rest of his career.
Stauffer was asked about McDavid’s future with Mike Babcock reportedly set to take over behind the bench.
“I don’t think there’s anybody more committed to Edmonton than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl,” Stauffer said. “I expect the next contract that Connor McDavid signs to be a seven-year extension.”
Here’s Stauffer making the call:
McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million extension last October that carries a $12.5 million cap hit and runs through 2027-28.
The Oilers made that one official back in the fall:
Next summer is the earliest McDavid can put pen to paper on another deal. If he doesn’t, he hits unrestricted free agency in 2028. That leaves the Oilers a one-year window to lock him up.
A seven-year deal would start in 2028-29 and run through McDavid’s age-38 season. It would also keep him alongside Draisaitl, who is signed through 2032-33 on his own eight-year extension.
Draisaitl already committed for the long haul:
The McDavid questions ramped up after word got out that Mike Babcock is in line to coach the Oilers. Stauffer doesn’t think the change behind the bench does anything to push the two stars out the door.
Edmonton can’t make anything official until next July. Stauffer is betting they get the deal done the moment they can.
