Connor McDavid hitting free agency is the kind of moment that shifts the landscape of the NHL, and the New York Rangers would be foolish not to explore the possibility of luring him to New York. McDavid is the best player in the league and has the talent to instantly transform a franchise. His last two Stanley Cup Final disappointments with Edmonton could influence him to test the open market next year, when he’s set to become a free agent. With the Rangers potentially entering a retooling phase and with a massive contract like Artemi Panarin’s ($11.6 million AAV) coming off the books, the timing could align perfectly. The question isn’t just can the Rangers go after McDavid, it’s should they?
Now, this is a major what-if scenario and more likely than not McDavid will re-sign in Edmonton and probably finish his career as an Oiler. That said, the window to extend him officially opened on July 1st, 2025, and he still has yet to sign a new deal, which is worth noting. After back-to-back Stanley Cup Final losses to the Florida Panthers, McDavid may have some doubts about the Oilers’ ability to get over the hump and finally win it all. If he decides not to re-sign and instead hits the open market, there are a ton of factors the Rangers would need to consider before imagining him wearing the red, white, and blue at Madison Square Garden in the fall of 2026.
The first question is simple: does Connor McDavid even want to play for the New York Rangers? Outside of the 2024–25 season, the Rangers have been one of the NHL’s top teams, making two conference final appearances in three years. Of course, all of this might be a moot point, as the team is coming off a majorly disappointing season and has already begun shaking up its core from those deep playoff runs. Since the conference final loss in 2024 to the Panthers, they have moved on from Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Lindgren, Chris Kreider, and K’Andre Miller. In return, they have added J.T. Miller and Vladislav Gavrikov, and they may still be looking to bring in another top six forward. That could be a hurdle if McDavid is not sold on the team’s new direction or core, especially if he is prioritizing Stanley Cup contention over simply signing the biggest contract.
If Connor McDavid is fully bought in on the Rangers’ vision and future and wants to be a New York Ranger, the next factor becomes the financial aspect and contract. McDavid is the best player in the NHL, and frankly, it is not even close. A player of his caliber almost never hits the open market, and he is going to command a contract that sets a new record in the NHL. McDavid could realistically land a seven-year deal worth upwards of $17 to $18 million per year, possibly even more. The Rangers are set to have Artemi Panarin’s $11.6 million cap hit come off the books and are projected to have roughly $30 million in cap space, so paying McDavid should not be an issue. If they do break the bank for him, they likely will not be able to build as deep a roster, given how much cap space one player would take up. But on the flip side, if any player is worth that kind of money, it is McDavid. He might be as valuable as two or three top-six forwards combined.
So the verdict for me is yes, the Rangers should absolutely pursue signing Connor McDavid. A player of his caliber only enters the league once in a generation. With his elite skating and complete all-around game, McDavid could lift the Rangers right back into Stanley Cup contention. Beyond that, putting the best hockey player in the world in the biggest media market could elevate his profile globally and even domestically as well as bringing more eyes to the sport. New York is the largest and most populated hockey market in the U.S., and having McDavid on Broadway would be a massive win not just for the Rangers, but for the NHL as a whole. It would be a move on the level of Wayne Gretzky to the Kings, one that could rewrite hockey history. Only time will tell if McDavid chooses to stay in Edmonton or test the open market, but never say never. A year from now, we could be looking at Connor McDavid wearing a blue sweater at Madison Square Garden.