Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said he has “every intention to win in Edmonton” and is prepared to take his time before deciding on a contract extension. Speaking at Canada’s Olympic orientation camp, the three-time NHL MVP added that he has no preference on whether a new deal is signed before the season but wants to avoid distractions as the club pursues its first Stanley Cup since 1990. McDavid became eligible to sign an extension on 1 July but confirmed that neither his representatives nor the Oilers have exchanged figures on term or salary. He would become an unrestricted free agent in July 2026 if no agreement is reached. General Manager Stan Bowman said last month he is encouraged by preliminary discussions and expects negotiations to intensify later in the off-season. The Oilers have more than US$44 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, the first season of a prospective new contract for McDavid, whose current deal carries a US$12.5 million annual cap hit. Edmonton recently allocated long-term money to Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, underscoring its intention to keep its core intact after back-to-back Stanley Cup Final losses to the Florida Panthers.