Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers just landed a new defenseman who already ranks McDavid among the game’s all-time greats.
What happened?
On 13 Jul 2026, the Oilers announced a five-year, $20 million deal for defenseman Ryan Shea, a 28-year-old who spent his first three NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shea’s arrival follows Edmonton’s early playoff exit in April, when the Oilers lost in the Western Conference Quarterfinal to the Anaheim Ducks. The club also shook up its coaching staff and shipped out veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks.
Why it matters for Connor McDavid
Shea didn’t mince words when asked about joining a roster that already features McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman. “You get Sid that has been around the game for so long and he’s won Cups and done everything that you can do pretty much in the League, and being around him and learning from him and his leadership was incredible,” Shea told NHL.com. “And now you’re going to be playing with probably the best player to put on skates.”
McDavid, 29, is widely viewed as the NHL’s premier talent and a future Hall of Famer. Shea joins Frederik Andersen in Edmonton’s push to reload after a disappointing postseason run.
What comes next?
Shea will earn $4 million per season and immediately slot into a defense corps that must rebound from a tough playoff exit. The Oilers’ new tandem of Babcock and Smith now faces the task of molding a group that already includes McDavid’s lethal offensive core.
Who is Ryan Shea?
The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Shea 121st overall in 2015. He spent four seasons at Northeastern University, then three more in the AHL with the Texas Stars. He cracked Pittsburgh’s NHL roster in 2023-24, playing 39 games and totaling five points. Across 150 career NHL games, he has nine goals and 32 assists.