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Seravalli predicts McDavid won’t sign extension with Oilers next summer

Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

By Zach Laing

Sep 28, 2026, 18:30 EDTUpdated: Sep 28, 2026, 18:35 EDT

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It’s hot take season, and NHL insider Frank Seravalli is hot off the press with some of his own.

He dove into 32 predictions in an article for Sportsnet, predicting a Stanley Cup Final between the Minnesota Wild and Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals, with the Wild acquiring Dylan Larkin and him helping them reach the pinnacle.

More pertinent for those who peruse this website, however, is a bold prediction that when Connor McDavid becomes eligible for a contract extension next summer, he won’t ink a deal, instead playing out the final year of his two-year, $12.5 million AAV contract.

And if McDavid leaves, it won’t be by way of a trade.

My belief: Though undecided, if McDavid is ultimately changing teams, it won’t be via trade, as he won’t want to weaken the next team before his arrival. Think small sign-and-trade with a piece for his rights, similar to Mitch Marner.

Bold indeed.

The Oilers captain’s third contract with the team begins this season, but it’s a short one. He saved the Oilers some money — maybe a lot, considering some of the deals we’ve signed in the last calendar year — and bet that the team would be better around him. That’s what the modus operandi has been for general manager Stan Bowman, but McDavid is arguably deeper in terms of his commitment to the organization than in years past.

After all, he was one of the leaders who met and greenlit the hiring of Mike Babcock. It wouldn’t be a good look for him to leave before his coaches three-year contract is up.

But there’s a world where it could happen. All those “what’s the worst thing that could happen?” thoughts about Babcock could come true, and if they did, then yeah, maybe McDavid leaving could make some sense.

Seravalli had other Oilers predictions, too.

Devon Levi the guy?

“Devon Levi will lead the Edmonton Oilers on to the ice as starter for opening night of the playoffs.”

Maybe this one isn’t as bold as the McDavid one, though Levi taking the reins would not only be surprising, but a welcome one. The Oilers are trusting Tristan Jarry can turn things around, and hoping that a healthy Frederik Andersen can lighten the load, but Levi is Edmonton’s wild card.

There’s been plenty of rookie goalies who have had success in their first seasons, and five of them have helped their team win a Stanley Cup in their first season while playing more than 11 playoff games: Ken Dryden (1970-71, Montreal Canadiens), Patrick Roy (1985-86, Montreal Canadiens), Cam Ward (2005-06, Carolina Hurricanes), Matt Murray (2015-16, 2016-17, Pittsburgh Penguins) and Jordan Binnington (2018-19, St. Louis Blues).

“After wandering from Mikko Koskinen to Jack Campbell, Stuart Skinner, Tristan Jarry and Cal Pickard, the Oilers finally have something in the 24-year-old who just needed a change of scenery. Levi has earned rave reviews for his work ethic, which counts with team leadership.”

The Pacific belongs to Edmonton

The four teams to win their divisions, Seravalli predicted?

Montreal taking the Atlantic, Carolina taking the Metro, Dallas coming out on top in the Central, and Edmonton winning the Pacific. If it happens, it will be the Oilers’ first division title since 1987.

It’s been a long time coming.

Zach Laing is Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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