Connor McDavid knows that Edmonton fans look forward to the calendar.
The captain of the Oilers still plans to take his time before deciding on his future.
Largely considered the best player in the world, McDavid enters the last season of an eight -year contract and $ 100 million next season. He becomes eligible to sign an extension on July 1.
“I am sure we are going to enter it in the next two weeks, but I am not in a hurry,” McDavid told journalists after the Oilers’ release meetings on Thursday, two days after losing in the Stanley Cup final. “I don’t think there is chronology.
“I know people will watch this July 1st and try to see if there is something. But for me, I’m just not in a hurry this way. ”
The oilers fell into six games in a deep and grainy team of the panthers, losing against Florida in the cup cup in the final for the second consecutive year.
McDavid’s absolute priority when considering a contract extension is simple: winning.
“This is the most important thing,” he said.
“If I think there is a good window to win here, again and again, then the signature is not a problem.”
The 28 -year -old joined the Oilers in 2015 after being drafted first on the whole. He arrived after nine dark years without eliminatory series in Edmonton, and gradually helped in the oilers on the edge of a championship.
While Edmonton lost in six games this year, the Oilers pushed the Panthers to seven in 2024, falling 2-1 in a tight final match after erased a deficit in the 3-0 series.
McDavid described last year’s defeat as a “sorrow”. The loss of this year was “more frustrating”.
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“Of course, there are unfinished affairs here,” said McDavid. “This nucleus has been together for a long time, and we have built ourselves at this time.
“That being said, in the end, we still have to do what is best for me and my family, and that’s what I need to take care of first.”
The triple winner of the Hart trophy as a Ligue MVP produced 26 goals and 74 assists in 67 games last season. He then accumulated 33 points in 22 playoffs, equaling the superstar of the Oilers Leon Draisaitl for the head of the playoffs.
McDavid and Draisaitl form one of the most dangerous duos in the league.
Draisaitl, in the same contractual situation as McDavid last year, waited for September to sign an eight -year kick of $ 112 million next season.
The German striker hopes that his running mate will follow suit.
“Do I want it here forever? Yes, of course,” said Draisaitl. “I think everyone does.
“I haven’t really talked about Connor yet.
Oilers are an older team, but Draisaitl thinks that the nucleus is at its peak and always has “a lot of juice” for the coming seasons.
McDavid said that improvements should come from the already established group.
“It is on each person of this play and this organization to dust off, come back and be better,” he said. “Everyone has to find a new level. It is not as if we had a ton of CAP room and that we have obtained a long list of very praised prospects striking at the door.”
“The team is certainly well placed to be really good next year,” he added. “Really, really good next year. Beyond that, I don’t know or don’t care.”
Bring back Bouchard
The re-signature of the defender n ° 1 Evan Bouchard could be a more immediate question for the Oilers. Bouchard will become a limited free agent when his bridge agreement of $ 7.8 million over two years will expire on July 1.
The 25 -year -old is online for a large increase after consecutive consecutive playoffs for a total of 55 points in 47 games.
“We tried not to talk about it too much time in the playoffs, to focus on hockey,” he said. “I love being here, I want to be here and yes, we will see where take place in the coming days.”
Broken hand for Nugent-Hopkins
While discussing his future, McDavid revealed that striker Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had played by a broken hand.
“It was not easy to look at him go through that, but quite incredible what he could do,” said McDavid.
Nugent-Hopkins scored six goals and 14 assists in 22 playoffs. The oilers also lost striker Zach Hyman because of a wrist injury before the final, and defender Mattias Ekholm only played the last seven games in the playoffs due to an uncluttered disease.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press