With each passing day, the question of Connor McDavid’s future with the Edmonton Oilers becomes that much more pressing.
The Oilers captain is signed with the team through next season, but after that, he will be a free agent who can sign with any NHL club that he desires. If it gets to that point, McDavid would undoubtedly be the biggest name in league history to hit the free market.
It’s up to Oilers GM Stan Bowman and CEO Jeff Jackson to ensure that does not happen. That duo was able to avoid that same thing from happening with Leon Draisaitl this summer, locking him up with an eight-year extension.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, contract negotiations between the Oilers and McDavid have yet to get underway.
The reality is that Jeff Jackson said they have not started any type of contract negotiations or conversations on that front,” LeBrun reported on Tuesday’s segment of TSN Insider Trading.
“There’s no hurry to get into this. There’s a season to play out, there’s a focus on getting the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup Final, and then everyone involved is comfortable having that conversation.”
EARLY TRADING – TSN’s Hockey Insiders on McDavid’s future in Edmonton with a year left in his deal, a rising salary cap, and the latest on expansion: https://t.co/VUQ23Ay2JY
Watch an expanded Insider Trading later today on SportsCentre and https://t.co/BQGeAnETfN. pic.twitter.com/IV9lyxUI0e
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 10, 2024
McDavid is not eligible to sign an extension with the Oilers until July 1, meaning that the lack of negotiations is not holding up a contract being signed mid-season. Also, just because he is eligible to sign on July 1 doesn’t necessarily mean that will be the day that it all gets done.
Draisaitl was in the same situation last summer, and it took him until early September to put pen to paper on a new deal.
This shouldn’t be of major concern for Oilers fans, as McDavid has stated on multiple occasions that he loves being a member of the team. With Draisaitl signing long-term, it also confirmed that Edmonton is the only team in the entire league where McDavid could play with his long-time friend and running-mate.
With the team coming within a win of the Stanley Cup last season, the Oilers are also arguably one of the team’s best situated to win over the next few seasons.
Anxiety will be high in the Alberta capital as long as McDavid remains unsigned, but the alarm bells should not be ringing quite yet.