Frustrated in Edmonton? Analyst Blames Connor McDavid for Extending

Connor McDavid has been frustrated of late—and for good reason. The Edmonton Oilers have struggled to find any consistency in a season that’s championship or bust, his wingman, Leon Draisaitl, is out for the rest of the regular season at least, and they were just outscored 9-2 in a two-game stretch at home against Florida and Tampa Bay.

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The best player in the world voiced his frustrations after that loss to the Lightning, which included what appeared to be some backhanded comments praising Jon Cooper—and in turn, taking a shot at his own head coach, Kris Knoblauch. He walked back those remarks on Monday, but that didn’t stop former NHL GM Craig Button from ripping into him, stating that McDavid had the opportunity to leave Edmonton this summer, and that he doesn’t have any sympathy for him feeling this way.

Button said:

“When you have a voice, you’re also going to have to use it in a way that I think is responsible, and when it isn’t, I hope he’s ready for the criticism. Connor McDavid signed a two-year contract extension. If he doesn’t think that it was a good spot for him in Edmonton, it’s on him—why did he sign a two-year contract extension? He could have left this summer. He could have evaluated. It’s amazing. I would hate to hear what he has to say about a coach who only got him to the second round of the playoffs or to the third round of the playoffs. A coach that got him to the Stanley Cup Final back-to-back years? Connor McDavid, you have choices. You signed a two-year contract extension. Oh boy, now you don’t like it? I’m sorry—you’re not getting any forgiveness from me for your comments,”

The 29-year-old McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension signed with the Oilers in October still doesn’t begin until next season (2026-27) and runs through the 2027-28 campaign.

Button’s not wrong—McDavid knew what he was signing up for when extending in Edmonton. The Oilers were, and still are, an older team coming off back-to-back lengthy playoff runs to the Stanley Cup Finals, without much new young talent emerging. Making it back for a third straight year was never going to be easy, and it will very likely have to come via McDavid and Draisaitl putting the team on their backs, as they so often do.

That being said, if they don’t have enough steam to do it again in 2025-26, McDavid may have to reevaluate everything this offseason—much sooner than he would have initially imagined when signing to stay in Edmonton.

Next: Insider Critical of McDavid’s Play and Postgame Comments After Lightning Loss