Connor McDavid opened up on a longer than usual offseason after his Edmonton Oilers were defeated in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Following two consecutive Stanley Cup Final losses in 2024 and 2025, the Edmonton Oilers are enjoying a longer-than-usual offseason after being eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in Round 1 of the 2026 postseason.
Although Connor McDavid would have preferred a shorter summer, the NHL’s premier forward is more than ready to get back into the swing of things.
“I’m just excited. It was enough time to miss the game for a little while,” McDavid told reporters on Wednesday while confirming that he’s 100 percent healthy, per NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest.
“That’s a good thing. I missed playing, missed being with the guys and that brings energy. You can feel the energy around the room. It’s all positive.”
There are a couple of new faces in Alberta ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, most notably — and controversially — head coach Mike Babcock. Gone are the likes of longtime defenseman Darnell Nurse and goaltender Stuart Skinner, replaced by Ryan Shea, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi, among others.
The clock could be ticking for McDavid to win a Stanley Cup in Edmonton; the 29-year-old’s two-year, $25 million extension kicks in this season, and he could become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2028.
“Training camp hasn’t started, but the comfort in the room seems good,” McDavid added. “Guys are all-in here; I don’t know how else to say it. Guys have really put their egos aside and guys are here to win and that’s what we want, and we want a coach that matches our intensity and our energy and feel [Babcock] does that.
“I like what I’ve seen. Guys came in early and guys are ready to go, you can tell. There’s a lot of energy in the room, which is great. All signs are positive.”
The Oilers have been oh-so-close to capturing a first title since 1990, and with a slightly new-look roster, they’ll try again this year.
Edmonton opens training camp under Babcock next week before beginning the 2026-27 season against the division-rival Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29.
Following two consecutive Stanley Cup Final losses in 2024 and 2025, the Edmonton Oilers are enjoying a longer-than-usual offseason after being eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in Round 1 of the 2026 postseason. Although Connor McDavid would have preferred a shorter summer, the NHL’s premier forward is more than ready to get back into the swing of things.