Speculation: Elephant in the room: Is McDavid going to be the biggest UFA ever in 2026?

[Fourier]

They had a lot go right last year and still ended up losing. Management still won't fix the goaltending for example. Have handed out brutal contracts like Nurse and Campbell. McDavid and Drai are carrying them as much as they can, but the body of work by management has been very poor now coming up on ten years.

Nurse has been excellent this year. It may well be his best year of his career.

 

[TheNumber4]

Edmonton is the heavy heavy favourite . Beggininb to play better and a deep playoff run still seems likely despite uneven start. Seems like more quiet / reserved guy ; unsure he’d desire a big spot light that a Toronto or NY for example would provide

Early days. But the Oilers are rounding into a form right now that could be even better than what they went they went into the playoffs last year with. Hilarious that other teams think they'd give McD a better shot at winning it all then what he's already got.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

Early days. But the Oilers are rounding into a form right now that could be even better than what they went they went into the playoffs last year with. Hilarious that other teams think they'd give McD a better shot at winning it all then what he's already got.

than* not "then"

And it sounds like we should just hand them the cup already.

 

[TheNumber4]

than* not "then"

And it sounds like we should just hand them the cup already.

Wow a typo, got me. Surprised to see you around again, thought you jumped off the hockey bandwagon after the Rags tanked as I predicted. But anyways, to address your strawman, I never said hand them the cup already, only saying the team looks good and poised to contend again. It's a decent take I think, much better than all the trash takes you had about the Oilers last year while they kept winning and proving you wrong every step of the way.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

Wow a typo, got me. Surprised to see you around again, thought you jumped off the hockey bandwagon after the Rags tanked as I predicted. But anyways, to address your strawman, I never said hand them the cup already, only saying the team looks good and poised to contend again. It's a decent take I think, much better than all the trash takes you had about the Oilers last year while they kept winning and proving you wrong every step of the way.

And did they win the big one or did they go home with some more individual awards?

 

[TheNumber4]

And did they win the big one or did they go home with some more individual awards?

Does it matter, when the discussion is how wrong your takes were throughout year? How did losing to Kings, Nucks, Stars go for you? It's obvious your hate on for the Oilers is making your takes really dumb. Not sure where it stems from, are you mad the Oilers can't save the Rags from being the worst Franchise in the history of the NHL again? Are you hoping for McJesus to save you like Messier and friends?

 

[hamzarocks]

Early days. But the Oilers are rounding into a form right now that could be even better than what they went they went into the playoffs last year with. Hilarious that other teams think they'd give McD a better shot at winning it all then what he's already got.

If he signed with Panthers, tampa and Avs he'd have a better chance.

Most of those teams cant afford him though and panthers & avs likely teams he doesnt want to play for agter bitter playoff losses to them deeo in the playoffs.

Realistically hell extend at 15-16M x 8 with the oilers

 

[TheNumber4]

If he signed with Panthers, tampa and Avs he'd have a better chance.

Most of those teams cant afford him though and panthers & avs likely teams he doesnt want to play for agter bitter playoff losses to them deeo in the playoffs.

Realistically hell extend at 15-16M x 8 with the oilers

How do those teams look with 15M out of their roster to fit McD. It's a different picture at that point. Not to mention no Perfect Wingman in Drai to play with.

Those outside Edmonton, won't be able to see this. But McDavid actaully likes the team that he's pretty much built himself in Edmonton. Hilarious that you think he'd walk away from what he's built to have a not even better chance on another team.

But I do commend you for being realistic and leaving the Leafs off your list of "better chances".

 

[elitepete]

He should go to the Leafs

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

How do those teams look with 15M out of their roster to fit McD. It's a different picture at that point. Not to mention no Perfect Wingman in Drai to play with.

Those outside Edmonton, won't be able to see this. But McDavid actaully likes the team that he's pretty much built himself in Edmonton. Hilarious that you think he'd walk away from what he's built to have a not even better chance on another team.

But I do commend you for being realistic and leaving the Leafs off your list of "better chances".

Two top 5 centers is a dream to build around. It's as close to a guaranteed cup as you can get. Gretzky-Messier, Beliveau-Richard, Sakic-Forsberg, Yzerman-Fedorov, Crosby-Malkin.. all multi cup winners.

Yet McDavid-Draisaitl are in year 10, no cup and their goalie is Stuart Skinner. Management has failed them. Do you think they've done a good job 10 years into the McDavid era? Imo majority of teams would have done better.

 

[TheNumber4]

Two top 5 centers is a dream to build around. It's as close to a guaranteed cup as you can get. Gretzky-Messier, Beliveau-Richard, Sakic-Forsberg, Yzerman-Fedorov, Crosby-Malkin.. all multi cup winners.

Yet McDavid-Draisaitl are in year 10, no cup and their goalie is Stuart Skinner. Management has failed them. Do you think they've done a good job 10 years into the McDavid era? Imo majority of teams would have done better.

Yeh well similar to Buffalo, Oilers had to come out of a 10 year drought which is a monstrous climb. Try building a team without free agents agents wanting to go there or players wanting to be traded there. There was always going to be a longer lag than other teams for that reason, but they still eventually got there, highest chances to win the Cup in 2 years now, and contenders the previous years.

But if we are talking about if McDavid would have been better off with anothe team to start his career. The only realistic teams that McDavid could have gone to at the draft. Are Buffalo, Arizona, Toronto, or Edmonton. All trash teams that can’t find any success. Which of these reams do a better job exactly? Buffalo fat chance. Arizona can’t even keep a hockey team. Toronto perennial first round failures despite having strong rosters and the longest cup drought in history. Any other teams outside th realistic options are just pipe dreams and fantasies. First overalls don’t go to good teams so it’s a moot point.

6 years into it the Oilers were already contenders. 8 years into it and this year included they are odds on favorites to win it. Did it take a bit longer, yes as noted above but overall I’m happy with where the team is at. The most you can ask for is to have a chance to win every year. The oilers have a better chance than most teams, and all teams if you ask Vegas oddsmakers and analytical models.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Yeh well similar to Buffalo, Oilers had to come out of a 10 year drought which is a monstrous climb. Try building a team without free agents agents wanting to go there or players wanting to be traded there. There was always going to be a longer lag than other teams for that reason, but they still eventually got there, highest chances to win the Cup in 2 years now, and contenders the previous years.

But if we are talking about if McDavid would have been better off with anothe team to start his career. The only realistic teams that McDavid could have gone to at the draft. Are Buffalo, Arizona, Toronto, or Edmonton. All trash teams that can’t find any success. Which of these reams do a better job exactly? Buffalo fat chance. Arizona can’t even keep a hockey team. Toronto perennial first round failures despite having strong rosters and the longest cup drought in history. Any other teams outside th realistic options are just pipe dreams and fantasies. First overalls don’t go to good teams so it’s a moot point.

6 years into it the Oilers were already contenders. 8 years into it and this year included they are odds on favorites to win it. Did it take a bit longer, yes as noted above but overall I’m happy with where the team is at. The most you can ask for is to have a chance to win every year. The oilers have a better chance than most teams, and all teams if you ask Vegas oddsmakers and analytical models.

I agree they're cup contenders and i wouldn't be surprised if they win, Mcdrai are that good they can practically will them to it. But man management has made it tough on them.

And regarding other teams, Quebec/Colorado, Detroit, and Pittsburgh were all bottom of the barrel teams when they got their star centers. So it's hard to say that say Toronto or Buffalo would have done worse with those two. McDavid is a franchise changing type of player.

 

[TheNumber4]

I agree they're cup contenders and i wouldn't be surprised if they win, Mcdrai are that good they can practically will them to it. But man management has made it tough on them.

And regarding other teams, Quebec/Colorado, Detroit, and Pittsburgh were all bottom of the barrel teams when they got their star centers. So it's hard to say that say Toronto or Buffalo would have done worse with those two. McDavid is a franchise changing type of player.

I think Edmonton is the toughest team in the League to GM. Atleast it was but a select few teams may have taken that mantle now. Management was a bit of an up and down roller coaster to start. McD made the 2nd round in his 2nd year, then Chia started going dumbass and we missed for 2 years before rebuilding again. Holland was up and down but ultimately made 2 moves that made them the contenders they are today in Ekholm and Hyman trade. I guess pass management also helped with Drai and Bouch drafts.

I mean most teams are going to be bottom barrel teams when they draft 1st overall. But how long and how deep was that hole before they got there.. I think that has an effect on how long to get out of it. In terms of the teams that were realistically in the running for McD though, not any could have got McD off and running with a wingman like Drai. And considering their lack of ability to do anything close to successful since that draft, I doubt McD has a better chance on those teams. Buffalo is self explanatory. Arizona ditto. Toronto it doesn’t matter what they do there or how much talent they have, they’ve never got close to success since 1967.