Wayne Gretzky Jokes About Protecting His Statue Amidst McDavid Trade Speculation

Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates on the bench if front of Wayne Gretzky during the 2020 NHL All-Star Game between the Pacific Division and Central Division at the Enterprise Center on January 25, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)

One of the biggest stories in recent NHL news has been Connor McDavid's future with the Edmonton Oilers. Speculation surrounding the Oilers captain continues to grow across the hockey world following another disappointing playoff exit. Wayne Gretzky was asked about the rumours in a light-hearted way when talking about McDavid’s commitment to Edmonton and the constant trade talk around the NHL. Gretzky said this during a media appearance in which he defended Connor McDavid’s commitment to the Edmonton Oilers. The NHL legend also joked that he wouldn’t tell McDavid to leave, because he doesn’t want his famous statue in Edmonton to be damaged by angry fans.

Wayne Gretzky discusses Connor McDavid and Edmonton Oilers NHL future speculation

Wayne Gretzky thinks Connor McDavid still enjoys playing for the Edmonton Oilers even as trade rumours surrounding the NHL star escalate. In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Gretzky said NHL stars today don’t have to leave small markets to build their brand. McDavid, he said, is still close to Edmonton even after the team’s first-round playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks. When asked whether he would tell McDavid to join another franchise, Gretzky joked. Four-time Stanley Cup winner laughed that he would rather keep his Edmonton statue safe than give Oilers fans controversial advice. The discussion rolled on after a few analysts wondered if McDavid could one day consider another team if the Oilers continued to struggle to win a Stanley Cup. While Edmonton recently made back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, the most recent first-round ouster raised new questions about the direction of the franchise. Former NHL defenseman Erik Johnson also fuelled the speculation, saying either Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews could be on the Minnesota Wild in the next few seasons. His comments quickly entered the larger NHL trade rumour discussion surrounding top Canadian stars. Connor McDavid signed a short-term extension that will keep him with the Edmonton Oilers through 2028 in a deal reportedly worth $25 million. The superstar center put up elite numbers once again this season, and another dominant offensive campaign has him leading the NHL scoring race. No indication that Connor McDavid is leaving Edmonton anytime soon. But more playoff disappointment is likely to keep NHL future speculation surrounding the Oilers captain alive through the offseason.