Prime Minister Mark Carney makes hilarious joke about McDavid's contract
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed some of the country’s most pressing issues in Edmonton, including Connor McDavid’s contract status.
The Liberal leader is in the Alberta capital this week, where he will host caucus meetings and meet with Premier Danielle Smith.
In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Carney talked about concerns about global trading and supply chains, before giving a dramatic, straight-faced comment on the unsigned McDavid.
He even, jokingly, offered to make some room in the upcoming federal budget for the Oilers captain.
“We are in a crisis,” Carney started. “The global trading system has been upended, supply chains have been destroyed… McDavid is unsigned.
“In times like these, you have to draw back in, remember what you have: Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent Hopkins… Connor, if there is anything that we can do in the upcoming budget, we’re spending less, we’re gonna invest more, so we can bring that cup back to Canada.”
"We are in a crisis, the global trading system has been upended, supply chains have been destroyed, McDavid is unsigned."
Prime Minister Mark Carney started his caucus in Edmonton by talking about … the McDavid contract. pic.twitter.com/qwtyTmJ3Fd
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) September 10, 2025
Carney’s love of the Oilers has been well-documented since he rose to become Canada’s 24th prime minister back in March.
Shortly after he took over the position from Justin Trudeau, the 60-year-old attended an Oilers practice at Rogers Place, where he shared the ice with McDavid and actually spoke to him after the fact.
He featured the Oilers in his 2025 Canadian Federal Election ads and also cheered them on during their run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. It’s clear that the prime minister is a massive fan, and he understands just how important signing McDavid is for Edmonton’s future.
That fandom is most likely due to Carney spending the bulk of his childhood growing up in the city after moving from the Northwest Territories at the age of six. He grew up right around the time that the Oilers were established in the now-defunct WHA and later when they were admitted to the NHL.
On the flipside, it’ll be hard for McDavid to say that his contract status is not a distraction when the prime minister is lamenting about it to the press. It’ll be in the best interest of everyone surrounding the Oilers to get something done before the season starts next month.
It’s a funny line to cut the tension in what would have been a pretty bleak statement, and while not all Canadians are fans of Carney, you have to admit it was pretty good execution on his part.