As the hockey world buzzes with anticipation, all eyes are fixed on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers as contract negotiations remain shrouded in mystery.

Entering the final year of his deal, McDavid’s future has become one of the hottest topics of the offseason, with insiders and fans alike anxiously awaiting any hint of news.

While many expected a swift extension, the ongoing silence has only fueled wild speculation and raised the stakes for teams hoping to make a splash in the upcoming free agency.

With rumors swirling about a blockbuster deal potentially in the works and the possibility of seismic shifts across the NHL landscape, the uncertainty surrounding McDavid’s next move is creating a ripple effect—impacting not just the Oilers, but also shaping the strategies of rival teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As the days tick by and the hockey community grows restless, the quiet surrounding McDavid’s contract talks may be setting the stage for a truly stunning announcement.

Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Connor McDavid was expected to re-sign with the Oilers according to Ryan Rishaug, but with radio silence, it might lead to the potential for fireworks in August.

Although there is nearly nearly a year until the 2026 free agency class is revealed, the potential names listed are nothing short of incredible. Cale Makar, Jack Eichel, Kiril Kaprizov, and Nikita Kucherov are all players who could find new homes next summer.

But the headliner is unquestionably Connor McDavid. The NHL’s best player is entering the final year of his contract, and though he’s expected to have many suitors; he’s still up for an extension.

Insiders Suggest a Quiet Deal Could Be in the Works Behind the Scenes

However, reports from TSN’s Ryan Rishaug indicated that a potential extension for McDavid would be announced late July, early August, and with radio silence still, there’s only a couple weeks left:

Late July, early August wouldn’t surprise me [for the timing of the McDavid extension]. I’d think 4 years.

That echoes the reports that show McDavid’s next deal could reach $16-17M over a four or five year span.

If there is an extension in the works, both parties are doing their best to keep hush-hush about it. We haven’t heard a ton of progress about an extension but a ton of speculation surrounding his future if he doesn’t.

But for the silence, it screams urgency for the Maple Leafs and how they approach their plans.

McDavid’s Contract Silence Could Still Shape How the Maple Leafs Approach the Rest of the Offseason

If McDavid re-signs, then they can swallow the loss of bringing him in, then focus heavily on adding a player who can make an impact now and in the future. Plus it’ll probably kickstart the rest of the teams to do something as well.

If not, and we get an indication that he will be heading elsewhere next summer, Toronto may need to just take a break and take what they’ve added and wait. They are going to have a lot more money come next year, plus any other deals to open up more room both cap wise and roster wise is a great choice.

Toronto should still try and put an offer together in the background just in case, and they should take a serious look at trading off some heavy duty money in order to make a potential McDavid deal happen.

But either way, Connor McDavid’s silence around his contract is going to lead to a lot more speculation, especially if it continues on into the season.