“Could hit the open market”: Connor McDavid’s uncertain future with Oilers draws comparisons to Wayne Gretzky’s historic NHL exit | NHL News
The Edmonton Oilers are facing a familiar storm — one that mirrors the franchise’s most infamous moment from 1988. That was the year Wayne Gretzky, the face of the NHL and the pride of Edmonton, was traded to the Los Angeles Kings due to financial constraints and expiring contract concerns.Fast forward to 2025, and Oilers captain Connor McDavid might be walking a similar path — this time, possibly toward New York.
Stan Fischler and insiders hint Connor McDavid could follow Wayne Gretzky’s path to New York if Oilers falter again
Connor McDavid, who signed a massive eight-year, $100 million contract in 2017, has just one year remaining on his deal. While he’s maintained elite performance levels, the team around him has struggled to deliver playoff success. Now, with the salary cap increasing and free agency looming, NHL insiders are starting to speculate that the league’s brightest star could soon test the open market.Hockey Hall of Famer Stan Fischler ignited debate with a tweet that sparked real buzz, “Just for the sake of argument, let’s say that @Oilers don’t win the Stanley Cup, AGAIN. What are the chances that eventual free agent #ConnorMcDavid rents his Edmonton digs and decides to do a Gretzky and rents a condo within walking distance of @NYRangers MSG? Possible? No? Yes!”While clearly hypothetical, the comment struck a chord — especially considering that Gretzky himself eventually joined the Rangers in 1996 and closed out his career in New York. Could McDavid follow suit?Adding fuel to the speculation, ESPN NHL insider Greg Wyshynski also floated the idea, “There’s a pie-in-the-sky part of this that I can’t ignore… Until he puts pen to paper, there’s every possibility that Connor McDavid could hit the open market. If that’d ever happen, I truly believe that the Rangers would be one of the teams he’d look at.”Also Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Ottawa Senators eye Aaron Ekblad as top defensive target amid Nick Jensen injury concernsIf McDavid leaves, it would mark one of the biggest free agency moves since Gretzky’s trade — not just for the Oilers, but for the entire NHL. Whether Edmonton re-signs its generational talent or watches him walk away may define the league’s next era.
