The Edmonton Oilers enter the offseason with a clear priority: securing the future of their captain, Connor McDavid, who is heading into the final year of his eight-year, $100 million contract signed in 2017. After two consecutive Stanley Cup Final losses, the franchise’s vision remains focused on building toward a long-awaited NHL championship victory.
General manager Stan Bowman has previously been clear in stating that McDavid is one of the top priorities when it comes to shaping the Oilers’ future. Negotiations with McDavid are part of a broader strategy aimed at securing long-term stability for the team.
Locking in the team captain is a crucial goal for the Oilers this offseason. McDavid has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1, and while there’s no apparent urgency from the player’s side, time continues to pass. However, Bowman recently shared an update.
Bowman’s update on McDavid’s future
“I don’t have a timeline update, but I do expect to have some conversations with him soon and hopefully get that wrapped up,” Bowman said about the status of negotiations with McDavid, in an interview with insider Bob Stauffer on the Oilers Now podcast.
“Honestly, I’ve tried to give Connor his space. A lot of this is about respecting the athlete and their timeline. So we haven’t had any of those detailed discussions yet, but we certainly will,” general manager Bowman added regarding the situation.
Tentative date for a McDavid signing
In recent hours, Stauffer revealed a tentative date for a possible confirmation of McDavid’s extension with the Oilers. When offering a potential deadline, the insider said Edmonton is expected to present a record-breaking offer to its captain, aiming to have it signed “before August 28.” However, that version doesn’t align with Bowman’s statement. For now, it seems the wait will continue.