Connor McDavid might have a foot out the door already.
That alone is a worrying statement to read, but the Edmonton Oilers might be part of an ever-growing superteam trend.
Let's take a look at the world of football to set the stage.
Just a few years ago, Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain had a handful of superstars on their roster. Former F.C. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who shockingly left the Spanish club due to financial issues, joined French striker Kylian Mbappe and his old teammate Neymar during the summer of 2021; the former of those two players won a World Cup just three summers prior.
Fast forward three years, and all three players departed the club. Messi went to join MLS side Inter Miami, immediately winning them a Leagues Cup title and bringing them to the final of the U.S. Open Cup. His most recent triumph with Miami came this past autumn, when he and former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 to claim their first MLS Cup title.
Neymar left to join El Clasico rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Arabian top flight, joining Al Hilal and immediately winning a league title with them.
But despite his World Cup hat trick and his league titles in Paris, Mbappe could not find the same success that his former teammates did. Since he joined La Liga side Real Madrid in 2024, Los Blancos were bested in two consecutive league title races. Real Madrid also couldn't find success in the Champions League, falling to English Premier League side Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the 2024-25 edition while exiting at the same point the following season to Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.
Superstars the big issue?
There's an old saying that goes "too many chefs in the kitchen."
That saying is perfectly applicable here. With PSG, Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar together was enough of a headache for the opposition. But when you add in other big-name stars like Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi and former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, then you have the potential for a "too many chefs in the kitchen" scenario.
And it showed at times. From tension on the pitch to visible frustrations, you name it and it was there.
But when all three left, things clicked. PSG was no longer bound to the Messis and the Mbappes of the world, and the squad played some pretty good and clean football. They won the Ligue 1 title yet again and have now won the Champions League two times in a row, with their most recent triumph coming on May 30 against an Arsenal side that just won the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
What about Real Madrid? If you thought you were getting a sequel, then you're right.
Alongside Mbappe, Real Madrid employs Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, and former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. Oh, and they just brought Jose Mourinho back to be their next manager. While Mourinho did just go unbeaten with Liga Portugal side Benfica during the 2025-26 season, the club still couldn't translate such a season into a league title or any Champions League success.
When considering Real Madrid's current superstar lineup and their seemingly-insatiable thirst for more such players, it's possible to infer that the Real Madrid chaos could only get crazier.
Hansi Flick and Co watch on with smiles on their faces.
With Edmonton comes the dread of McDavid leaving but optimism abound?
While McDavid's departure could spell doom for the Oilers' hopes at winning the Stanley Cup, the case of Mbappe and PSG proves that not having a boatload of superstars isn't the end of the world.
Sure, the Oilers would still have Draisaitl until the end of the 2032-33 season, but individual superstars aren't necessarily the issue. As proven by the case of Real Madrid and PSG, too many big names in one locker room can often lead to conflict and lower quality of play. While the aforementioned clubs are pretty big names and are always contenders for some of the world's top players, it's clear that doesn't always translate to consistent success.
And it's not just a football issue. Franchises in any sport that build superteams don't necessarily win all the silverware.
When the Brooklyn Nets built their Steve Nash-coached superteam, one that featured the likes of James Harden and Kevin Durant, they looked on course for an NBA title at several points. But the three-point line, a lack of structure, and contract-related reasons meant that the Nets' superteam would ultimately fail to deliver any meaningful result.
The 2022 Denver Broncos could fit this bill, though this was more a by-product of the Russell Wilson trade. And not only did said "superteam" fail to do anything in 2022, they were defeated 13 times on the field, one of which was inflicted by the same Patrick Star that thinks mayonnaise and horseradish are instruments.
Those are only just two examples to add onto the plethora of slow-to-start and failed superteams in sports history.
The moral of the story
Unless the Oilers plan on losing McDavid for nothing in two years time, I wouldn't panic.
If the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 2027, they would almost certainly be in a position to offset any concerns that McDavid might leave. In this scenario, both sides might enter potential contract negotiations with fresh states of mind, something that could allow for a breakthrough and a long-term extension that benefits both sides.
But if the Oilers' plight continues and their superstar-led team doesn't secure a Stanley Cup, then the front office must be proactive when it comes to McDavid's future. Losing him for nothing or for a limited return would sour any positive from what is now an 11-year career for McDavid, while keeping a trade on the table would give the front office the chance to react the right way and ask for a significant return.
Edmonton nonetheless has the pieces to build a capable playoff contender, but there is precedence to suggest that a collection of superstars isn't required to do so. In fact, losing a superstar could be a boon for a team.
The Oilers must keep that in mind over the next two seasons.
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