Connor McDavid’s NHL Future Receives Major Prediction From ESPN Expert

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid is undoubtedly the best player in the world right now and will go down as one of the greats in the sport of hockey. At just 28, he’s already racked up three Hart Trophies, five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and more. McDavid has just one season left after this one on his eight-year, $100 million contract, which kicked in back in 2018. With his future uncertain, many wonder if he’ll stay in Edmonton beyond that.

The Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada native hasn’t signed an extension yet, but he also hasn’t hinted at wanting to leave the organization that drafted him first overall. “Everything’s a factor,” McDavid said back in September. “Obviously, my loyalty to Edmonton, the fans, the organization, the loyalty to the players, all while understanding my will to win, my desire to win. All while balancing my family, my need to see them and spend time with them and make sure the people I care about are good.” On Wednesday, ESPN Broadcaster John Buccigross appeared on the “Morning Cuppa Hockey” podcast and gave his prediction on what jersey McDavid will don when the 2026-27 NHL season comes around. “McDavid, Edmonton,” Buccigross said. “I think he’ll end up staying there and sign a max contract with them this summer.”

McDavid might not be putting up the same jaw-dropping numbers as in previous years, but he’s still having a great season. Through 58 games, he’s racked up 24 goals and 58 assists for 82 points-good for fourth in the league.

He and the Oilers are on a mission to get back to the Stanley Cup Final and finish what they started after falling to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 last season.

Edmonton Oilers better hope they’ve already hit rock bottom on season

Captain Connor McDavid had just two goals and a minus-8 rating in the nine games that followed him scoring the overtime winner in the 4 Nations final.

From the top of the Pacific Division to the depths of the lowest point in the season, it was a February to forget for the Edmonton Oilers. And March isn’t shaping up to be much better.

The two-week break in the schedule for the 4 Nations Face-Off appears to have broken a once-mighty Oilers machine, which had made its intentions of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals known since the end of November by churning out a run of 22-6-2.

Since then, they have gone in the opposite direction in the standings, falling from third place into a four-way tie for seventh heading into Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. That means one more slip and they’re suddenly out of the top 10.

Captain Connor McDavid had just two goals and a minus-8 rating in the nine games that followed him scoring the overtime winner in the 4 Nations final, while the Oilers went an uncharacteristic 3-6.

Stud defenceman Mattias Ekholm, who also played in the tournament, suiting up for Team Sweden, hasn’t been the same either. He didn’t accompany the Oilers on their four-game road trip, remaining home dealing with a nagging injury after having played the first 63 games of the season.

Sticking on the defensive side of things, the Oilers have had a league-worst 3.92 goals-against average since Feb. 1, followed in second-worst by the 3.83 mark of a Buffalo Sabres squad that didn’t let the fact they sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings stop them from edging Edmonton 3-2 on Monday.

Can you say rock bottom?

The Oilers have to hope so. That means it’s as bad as it gets, and things can only look up from here on out. And they are poised to peak at the most opportune time to make another lengthy run into the post-season.