Connor McDavid's future, Panthers' quest for rare 3-peat among NHL storylines

Connor McDavid will use as much runway as he sees fit.

Fans of the Edmonton Oilers, and the rest of the hockey world, will simply have to wait.

Storylines and talking points abound as the NHL pivots to the 2025-26 season. The list includes:

No thread, however, has the razor-sharp focus and attention like McDavid's future in Alberta.

Edmonton's superstar captain is entering the final season of an eight-year contract that has carried a $12.5 million US salary cap hit since 2017-18. McDavid said in June after the Oilers lost the Panthers in the final for a second time in 12 months, he would take his time with the decision despite being eligible to put pen to paper July 1.

That didn't change throughout the summer or when Edmonton gathered for training camp last month.

"We think about it, we talk about it," McDavid said Sept. 18 of his process. "Gauge where we're at, what we're feeling."

And that appears to remain the case with the puck about to drop on 2025-26, and unrestricted free agency potentially looming July 1.

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The Minnesota Wild recently locked up star winger Kirill Kaprizov to a mammoth eight-year, $136-million extension, and record-setting $17-million cap hit, in a move that had many wondering what that deal might mean for McDavid.

The three-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP has made it clear he wants to win in Edmonton. What's unclear is does that stretch beyond this season? And if he is indeed willing to sign, at what term?

McDavid also isn't the only big name on the impending UFA board with the regular season set to begin. The Newmarket, Ont.,