Why Oilers fans should not be worried about McDavid leaving
By Eric Calhoun on October 2, 2025
As the 2025-26 NHL season begins Oct. 7, many fans worry that McDavid not re-signing means he’s ready to leave. However, with time left before the regular season, it’s still a bit early to sound the alarms.
Now in his tenth season, McDavid is focused on one goal: the Stanley Cup. He has always put the team first. From missing the playoffs in his injury-plagued rookie year in 2016 to reaching his second Stanley Cup Final in 2025, McDavid still believes in his team. What’s different now is how far the team has come and his stronger desire to win in Edmonton. His hunger to add a Stanley Cup to his impressive career before turning 30 has never been in doubt.
McDavid is a man on a mission. When you get to a certain point in your career, your mentality changes. It becomes a win-now mindset. Cup or bust. Most legends are remembered for how successful they were in terms of how many championships they won. McDavid will be remembered for his impact on the game and all the things he can do with the puck, but that is not how he wants to cement his legacy. Regardless of all the records broken and the all-star selections, McDavid is determined to cross the finish line and claim Lord Stanley.
What makes all of this promising for Oilers fans is that they know their captain will not go down without a fight. Missing playoffs early in your career can be frustrating, but clinching a Stanley Cup Finals berth two years in a row and coming up short just adds fuel to the fire.
The NHL has not seen a team win three straight championships for many decades, and the Florida Panthers have been the team the Edmonton Oilers have not been able to defeat for two straight years. McDavid does not settle for less and expects more from himself and his team. If McDavid did not have belief in this team and the city of Edmonton’s fanbase, he would not be participating in training camp and preseason games. His love for his team demonstrates the undeniable leadership he displays on and off the ice and his willingness to do whatever it takes.
McDavid’s main priority is to win above all things, and a contract does not come before that. The next chapter in McDavid’s book is to bring a Cup back to the city of Edmonton and the country of Canada, and this should be something all Oilers fans should be excited about.