‘He’s a mainstay in Edmonton’: Gretzky doesn’t see McDavid leaving Oilers
The greatest player to ever lace up his skates believes the game’s current No. 1 star won’t be leaving his current team.
No. 99 noted that he thinks fans in Edmonton will see No. 97 in the blue and orange indefinitely.
“I think he’s a mainstay in Edmonton,” Gretzky said. “He likes it there. The organization is a good organization. They’ve got a chance every year to win. That’s all he wants. I don’t see Connor leaving Edmonton.”
A lot has been made about the outlook on McDavid’s career. Before the 2025-26 season began, McDavid didn’t have a contract extension in place, leaving many fans worried they were going to lose unquestionably the best player in the world today. Yet, general manager Stan Bowman and company were able to get the former first-overall pick to sign a two-year extension, carrying an AAV of $12.5 million.Yet, the simple thought of someone like McDavid potentially leaving two years from now sends a shiver up the spine of many people around Edmonton. Some, including insider Frank Seravalli, don’t think McDavid will sign an extension right away, as the Richmond Hill, Ont., native could sign a new deal as early as July 1, 2027.
The biggest concern regarding the 29-year-old is the direction the team might be heading when his current deal comes to an end. If the Oilers aren’t a championship contender by then, many fear that he’ll jet to a better team in search of a Stanley Cup, the only thing missing from his growing trophy case.
“There’s always a stigma about winning a Stanley Cup,” Gretzky said. “I know him really well. Nobody wants to win a championship worse than he does. Hopefully his time will come. I know it’s not from a lack of effort or dedication or love of the sport. And I hope one day he gets that opportunity to lift the Stanley Cup.”
Even without a Cup, McDavid has already had a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He’s won six Art Ross Trophies, second only to Gretzky. McDavid ranks second in franchise history in assists (813) and points (1,222), while sitting fifth in goals (417) and tied for ninth in games played (795). His 1.54 points per game has him third in NHL history behind only Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
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