Every day seems to bring a new update or report on Connor McDavid's contract situation, and that will remain the case until a decision is officially made.
Superstars very rarely even come close to hitting free agency in the NHL, and this isn't just a superstar; this is head and shoulders the best player in the world.
It all feels somewhat unprecedented, though we still have seen several big-name players hit the open market on July 1 over the years. Just a few months ago, Mitch Marner left Toronto for Vegas, but that was expected.
Nobody ever thought McDavid wouldn't be signed by now, and concern has certainly started to creep in amongst those involved. Former NHLer, now TSN analyst, Jeff O'Neill knows that, and he compared the feeling of this situation to that of John Tavares leaving the Islanders as a free agent back in 2018 during a recent episode of OverDrive.
"It's got a weird vibe to it where there's no contact; they're not talking. And yes, they could come up and get something done. But this is the same thing that happened with Tavares. This is how it started out, where it's like, "Ah, we'll see; it's business, I'm gonna take my time with this." And the next thing you know, it was January, and it was like, "Ah, it's business, you know, it's between my agent and the team." And then three or four months later he signed in Toronto. So, if I'm an Edmonton Oilers fan, this has got my attention, no question. It has to," O'Neill said.
Hour 1 on the start of the new season w/ @HayesTSN, @odognine2 and @jamiemclennan29:
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) September 2, 2025
- #LightsUpLetsGo playing through bullpen concerns
- Mitch Marner's perspective on his departure 🏒
- Connor McDavid's contract negotiations with #LetsGoOilershttps://t.co/05ODFhf8lh
The 28-year-old is a pending UFA, one month away from entering the final season of his eight-year, $100 million contract in Edmonton.
Maple Leafs fans are hoping for the same ending
While the odds are slim, there's no doubt the Toronto Maple Leafs' fanbase has the dream scenario of Connor McDavid coming home this summer in the back of their minds.
McDavid was, of course, born just outside of Toronto in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and grew up cheering for his hometown Maple Leafs.
Could he pull a John Tavares? Once again, it's still unlikely, but the Maple Leafs do appear to be keeping themselves flexible should that door open.
With the departure of Mitch Marner, general manager Brad Treliving has set himself up to have almost $24 million in cap space next offseason. It feels like a pie-in-the-sky scenario, though the longer McDavid remains without an extension, the more it shifts from fantasy to reality.