Jeff O’Neill isn’t leaving much room for debate when it comes to Connor McDavid’s future in Edmonton.
On a recent episode of OverDrive, the TSN analyst said there’s a “0% chance” McDavid stays with the Oilers beyond the two-year contract extension he recently signed, a line that immediately got Edmonton fans fired up.
The reaction was quick and plenty of it was aimed at the idea that Toronto media will never let the McDavid-to-Toronto conversation die. Daily Faceoff Edmonton joked, “The year is 2033.
Connor McDavid has won multiple Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, he’s broken franchise records, and, as he enters the twilight stages of his career, Jeff O’Neill still believes there’s a 0% chance he stays in Edmonton.” Dennis King also weighed in, saying, “They never will:) The Leafs could win the Cup and the story the next day on Sportsnet would be “Is this what brings McDavid back to Toronto?”
O’Neill’s reasoning was blunt. He said McDavid essentially gave Edmonton a two-year window and that the message was, ‘If we don’t win, I’m leaving to try somewhere else.’ When Jamie McLennan asked, “What if they win the Cup?”, O’Neill doubled down and said McDavid would be even more likely to leave because he would have delivered the Stanley Cup he came to win.
That part of the argument is what makes O’Neill’s take stand out. He wasn’t fully clear on exactly why he believes McDavid is headed out after what would be 13 seasons in Edmonton, only suggesting it could be about money or the chance to do something different.
The rest of the panel wasn’t nearly as absolute. Bryan Hayes said 40%.
Mike Johnson went with 23%. McLennan started at 70%, then wanted to bring that number down after hearing the others out.
Johnson still gave the Oilers a chance to keep McDavid, though he argued that if Edmonton doesn’t win - which he считает is more likely than winning - then there wouldn’t be much reason for McDavid to keep going there.
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Oilers Linked To Kirby Dach As Bigger Roster Questions Loom
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The larger backdrop matters here, too, because the NHLs salary structure is headed upward as league revenues keep climbing. For Edmonton, that means every decision on a young forward carries more than immediate lineup implications, and any pursuit of Dach sits alongside broader questions about how the club wants to allocate its money as the roster evolves. Exactly how serious that interest is remains part of the intrigue. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Are Suddenly In A Crowded Race For A Scorer
The market for scoring help is getting crowded fast, and the Oilers are right in the middle of it. Edmonton has been linked to Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach, while Kirill Marchenko is also drawing attention from several clubs, including Edmonton, Toronto and Boston, as teams keep looking for a forward who can tilt a lineup a little more. With no trades announced yet, the interest around the league is starting to feel like a race before anyone has even hit the finish line.
There is plenty else moving in the background, too, with Dylan Larkin broadening his trade request list and the Canadiens reportedly eyeing Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele for their own depth needs. For Edmonton, the challenge is the same one a lot of contenders face this time of year: identifying the right scorer, then finding a way to separate from a packed field of bidders before the market thins out. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Keep Circling Kirby Dach And This Rumor May Not Fade
Kirby Dachs name keeps coming up around the Oilers, and the timing makes sense with Edmonton always looking for ways to add more size and skill down the middle. The Montreal Canadiens forward is under contract through the 2026-27 season, but his long-term fit in Montreal has been a talking point for a while, especially as he works to re-establish himself after an injury-riddled stretch and push for a steady role in the lineup.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that both Edmonton and Calgary have shown real interest in Dach, with the Oilers viewed as especially aggressive in their pursuit. For Edmonton, the appeal is obvious: a player still young enough to fit a core timeline, with enough upside to make the chase worth monitoring whether it happens before the season, at the trade deadline, or later if circumstances change. [Read more 🡒]