The NHL community couldn’t take a break with all the rumors circulating around many teams and players. Indeed, these rumors are something that keeps the anticipation alive in the fans. Connor McDavid, the current captain of the Edmonton Oilers, is one player who has been subject to a significant amount of speculation. But why?

The #97 of the Oilers will be playing through the 2025-26 season, and it will be the same time for his contract to end for the team where he has grown his ice hockey career. However, will Edmonton let him go after it? Up until now, there has been no confirmation, but anything could happen. However, a recent update on a potential salary cap increase has surfaced, which could be intriguing for players like McDavid in their upcoming contract with a team like the Oilers.

As reported by Pro Hockey Rumors, the NHL and NHLPA have released an updated salary cap for the upcoming seasons. Indeed, for the next campaign, which is the 2025-26 season, the salary cap will go from $88 million to $92 million. However, the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons will see a drastic growth, as the limit will go up to $104 million and $113.5 million, respectively.

Fascinating, isn’t it? Absolutely! However, how will someone like Connor McDavid benefit from this updated salary cap? On July 5, 2017, the Oilers’ captain signed an eight-year, $100 million extension with an AAV of $12.5 million. But with this particular rise in the limit, the Oilers’ star can expect a similar contract for his next extension if the team wants to keep their most popular ice hockey player for more seasons in the NHL.

The numbers that were related to the limit increase for the salary cap suggest a bright future for stars like McDavid, who will likely be receiving contract extensions in the near future. However, for now, according to multiple sources, there are only rumors and no official confirmations on the future of the #97 with the Oilers. And recently, the community even discussed how the captain of Edmonton might get replaced by a certain forward.

Worries piling up for Connor McDavid

Many of the Oilers’ fans are aware that Connor McDavid’s contract will end in the 2025-26 season. However, until now, there have been no official updates regarding his future with the colors that he has been wearing since the 2015 NHL draft. Surely, the Oilers won’t replace their captain, will they?

The NHL is very unpredictable when it comes to trades, and the recent three-way deal involving the Colorado Avalanche, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Chicago Blackhawks shocked the entire league. It saw the Avs letting Mikko Rantanen go to the Canes, who was one of their major goal scorers of the current season and one of the most looked-forward players in the NHL.

Indeed, currently, Rantanen’s future is also looking dark, and he hasn’t received any contract from the Canes or any other team. However, if McDavid really does want a change in his career, and if he is looking forward to any other options than the Oilers, Edmonton will openly accept a player like Rantanen in their team, owing to his statistics. But the fans won’t be ready to say goodbye to McDavid. Only time will tell about these players’ future in the league.