Double the Joy: Edmonton Oilers Star Connor McDavid Prepares to Welcome First Child—And the Baby’s Name Has Fans in Tears 👇
Edmonton, AB – December 9, 2025 – In a season already brimming with high-stakes drama on the ice, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is scripting his most heartwarming chapter yet. The NHL’s undisputed speed demon and three-time Hart Trophy winner is gearing up to become a dad for the first time, and the name he’s chosen for his incoming bundle of joy has the entire city—and much of the hockey world—melting into a puddle of emotions.
McDavid and his wife, Lauren Kyle McDavid, dropped the joyful bombshell on Instagram late last week, sharing a candid black-and-white photo of Lauren cradling her growing baby bump against a snowy Edmonton backdrop. The caption? A simple, poignant “Baby McDavid, coming Spring 2026. We’ve chosen the name ‘Oiler’—because this little one was born into the bluest of bloods. 🟦❤️ #FamilyFirst #OilersNation.”
Yes, you read that right. Oiler McDavid. Not a traditional moniker, not a family heirloom—but a bold, unapologetic nod to the franchise that’s defined Connor’s life since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2015. At just 28, McDavid has already etched his name into Oilers lore as the youngest captain in NHL history, leading the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025. But this? Naming his child after the team that adopted him as its own? It’s the ultimate love letter to Edmonton, a city that’s weathered heartbreaking losses alongside him and celebrated every blistering breakaway like it was the Cup itself.
The announcement hit social media like a McDavid wrist shot—lightning-fast and impossible to ignore. Within hours, #BabyOiler was trending worldwide, with Oilers fans flooding timelines with blue-and-orange memes, custom onesies photoshopped with tiny No. 97 jerseys, and tear-streaked selfies captioned “Crying in my Connor jersey rn.” One viral post from local fan account @Oilers4Lyfe read: “Connor’s giving his kid our last name? Nah, WE’RE giving Oiler our heart. This is why Edmonton’s the best sports city alive. 🥲🔥” Another, from a season-ticket holder in the upper bowl: “I’ve rooted for this man through 0-8-0 starts and playoff heartbreaks. Now I’m rooting for diaper changes? Sign me up. Welcome home, little Oiler.”
Even across the league, the sentiment echoed. Teammate Leon Draisaitl, McDavid’s right-hand man on the ice, posted a photo of himself holding a mini Oilers flag with the caption: “Uncle Leo reporting for duty. Oiler McDavid, you’re gonna skate circles around us all. Congrats, C-Mac! 🇨🇦🍼” Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, a longtime rival-turned-respecter, chimed in: “Huge congrats, Connor and Lauren. Oiler? Legend status unlocked before day one. Let’s get that Cup for the little guy.” And don’t get us started on the outpouring from Oilers alumni like Wayne Gretzky, who called it “the classiest tribute I’ve seen in 50 years around this game.”
For McDavid, the timing feels poetic. Fresh off a scorching start to the 2025-26 season—where he’s already notched 15 goals and 28 assists in 25 games—the news arrives as Edmonton chases a third straight Final appearance. “Hockey’s my world,” McDavid told reporters after practice Monday, his trademark grin softened by a rare vulnerability. “But Lauren and I… we’ve been dreaming about this family for years. Naming the baby Oiler? It’s our way of saying thanks to this city, this team, these fans who’ve made us feel like home since day one. Can’t wait to show ’em the ropes—on the ice and off.”
Lauren, an interior designer who’s become Edmonton’s quiet style icon (her Muskoka wedding to Connor in July 2024 was a Vogue spread stunner), echoed the sentiment in a follow-up story: “Edmonton’s not just where we live—it’s who we are. Our little Oiler’s got big skates to fill, but we’re ready. đź’™”
As the countdown to spring begins, speculation is rife: Will Baby Oiler inherit Dad’s supersonic stride? Rock a tiny replica of Connor’s Easton stick from the cradle? Or, in a twist that’d break Oilers hearts everywhere, become a Leafs fan just to troll? (Kidding—sort of. Edmonton faithful are already petitioning for “Oiler McDavid Day” at Rogers Place.)
One thing’s certain: In a league full of flash and fury, McDavid’s reminding us all that the greatest wins happen off the scoreboard. Double the joy, indeed. Congrats to the soon-to-be parents—and here’s to Oiler McDavid, the newest (and tiniest) member of Nation.
Follow along for updates as the McDavids gear up for their big arrival. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see a stroller in the family suite come playoffs.
