Connor McDavid is staring at major pressure in Edmonton, and Mike Babcock walks into a season that could shape everything.
The real story here isn't Montreal. It's the report that another failed push could leave the Oilers facing the one outcome they've tried to avoid for years.
According to Marco D'Amico on BPM Sports, the next season could be McDavid's last in Edmonton if the club falls short again and doesn't get back to the Stanley Cup Final.
That's the pressure point now.
That changes the conversation fast. This stops being about a dream trade or fan fiction and turns into a question about whether the Oilers can still sell their captain on the path ahead.
McDavid has never been linked to a formal trade request in this report. There's also no indication he has asked out. But the warning is clear enough to shake the room.
Edmonton still has the two biggest pillars in place with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The problem is that star power alone doesn't calm the noise when the club keeps missing the last step.
Edmonton's window suddenly feels tighter with Connor McDavid
The Oilers did make headline changes. Frederik Andersen was brought in, and Babcock was hired as head coach on June 23, 2026.
But that doesn't erase the concern around the blue line, which the original report flags as the biggest question mark on the roster. That's where this story gets serious.
If Edmonton stalls again, every McDavid comment will get picked apart. Every cold stretch, every playoff stumble, every bad defensive night will bring the same question right back to the surface.
And that's why this matters more than any outside-team fantasy. The Oilers aren't dealing with gossip about where McDavid could land first. They're dealing with why he might start looking.
For Babcock, that raises the stakes before opening night even arrives. He isn't just managing a contender. He's stepping behind a bench attached to the biggest contract and legacy pressure in the league.
Nothing is confirmed beyond the report and the speculation around McDavid's future. Still, if Edmonton doesn't reach that final stage, this talk won't cool off. It will get louder.
If the Oilers miss the Stanley Cup Final again, should Connor McDavid leave Edmonton?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
A major trade out of Montreal has been addressed and it certainly changes things for the Canadiens if true
