Edmonton Oilers

Analyst Says Rangers Will Always Have Their Eye on Connor McDavid

One former NHLer believes the Rangers have always had their eyes on Connor McDavid and will be ready to pounce if he ever becomes available.

by
Jackson Weber
August 2, 2026

The New York Rangers always want to be relevant and viewed as a premier NHL franchise, so what’s gone on over the last few years hasn’t been acceptable.

As a result, many have expected the Rangers to do something big and bold to bring the excitement back to hockey in the Big Apple. While GM Chris Drury had a pretty productive offseason, there was no big Broadway move, and one former NHLer turned analyst wonders if that’s because they’re still holding out hope of landing Connor McDavid.

Mike Rupp recently spoke about New York’s big-game hunting attempts, mentioning that he believes the Rangers ultimately have had and will always have their eyes on McDavid’s situation in Edmonton.

Rupp said:

“I think we’re in a spot here where I think Chris Drury and management was looking towards this past summer. I think they were trying to position themselves in a way to go big, whatever that meant, the big, big-name players that were out there that we saw get absorbed by their current teams in a lot of situations… I also think that they have always had an eye on Connor McDavid and that situation and monitoring that. So I think there’s probably a plan to do something big. It just hasn’t come to fruition up to this point,”

The 29-year-old McDavid is, of course, about to enter the first year of the pivotal two-year, $25 million contract extension he signed with the Oilers in October. He’s coming off a massive 138-point (48 goals, 90 assists) Art Ross Trophy-winning 2025-26 campaign.

McDavid Oilers Rangers free agency — McDavid Oilers Rangers

McDavid’s main focus and number one goal remains winning a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. That being said, if things don’t go according to plan in 2026-27, then conversations about the world’s best player leaving will become as real as ever before.

Plenty of landing spots have already been and will continue to be floated, but if the Rangers find a way to get back to being competitive next season, they’ll undoubtedly be one of the top potential destinations. After all, it’s New York.

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