"It's obvious he wants out": NHL fans react to Connor McDavid criticizing and praising city of Edmonton with $100m Oilers contract expiring

NHL fans on social media reacted to Connor McDavid's candid thoughts about life in Edmonton, where he both criticized and praised the city at the same time. McDavid acknowledged that while the city may not have the ideal beach weather, it offers a unique environment for hockey players.

He pointed out that living in Edmonton is convenient, with minimal traffic and no long commutes, although he humorously noted that construction could be improved.

"There's no hour drive, no traffic, although I mean, the construction could be better." - Connor McDavid on living in Edmonton.

McDavid emphasized that the city provides a stress-free lifestyle, making it appealing for many players.

His remarks, though, have sparked discussions among fans about his commitment to the Oilers and what his future may hold, especially since the Oilers star has two years remaining on his eight-year $100 million contract.

Here's what fans said about McDavid's remarks about living in Edmonton on X/Twitter. One tweeted:

"Bro can barely find compliments for this city 💀 It’s obvious he wants out, can’t even say he wants to stay lmao."

Another fan chimed in:

"Yikes. You can tell by his body language that he's really sick of edmonton."

One fan took McDavid's comments as a compliment to Edmonton:

“Easy living”. Is a compliment. Edmonton has anything you need without any of the hassle of a massive city," one X user noted.

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

"Lived in Edmonton for 4 years during Univerisity. Couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Horrible weather and nothing to do. No beaches no mountains , lakes are gross. I enjoyed living in rural Alberta more than I did in Edmonton," another commented.

"No emotional attachment, it’s just a job. Yeah, he’s gonzo," one opined.

"He was honest, I like it. He's there to play hockey has a chance to win. Makes enough money to spend his free time not in edmonton," another X user commented.

Connor McDavid excited about the addition of Viktor Arvidsson

After spending three seasons with the LA Kings, Arvidsson joined the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent in July. The 31-year-old Swedish winger signed with the club on a two-year, $8 million deal.

Connor McDavid shared his excitement about Viktor Arvidsson's addition (via NHL.com):

"He's somebody that you'd rather have on your team and he's one of the guys that I'm really excited about. I think he's going to fit in great here."

Arvidsson, who has scored 20 or more goals five times in his career, is coming off an injury-shortened 2023-24 season. He played just 18 games due to back surgery, scoring six goals and 15 points.