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Connor McDavid leaving the Edmonton Oilers: GM Stan Bowman issues a major statement that confirms it all
After the Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup finals loss, GM Stan Bowman issued a curious statement which completely gives Connor McDavid an out from Edmonton.
The Edmonton Oilers suffered another disappointing loss to the Florida Panthers this year in the Stanley Cup Finals. After the loss, NHL pundits and insiders would question McDavid's status, as it appears the Oilers can't finish the job when it counts.
McDavid is due a contract extension, and has told media he's in no rush to address the matter, which is cause for concern. He's been an Oiler his entire career and wears the "C" as a leader in the locker room and on the ice.
«It's only been a couple of days since the season ended, I'm going to take some time to regroup,» McDavid said Thursday. «I'm going to talk to my agent a little bit and family and all that, and make some decisions whenever that time comes. But there's no rush on anything like that.
Troubling news continues to surface, as GM Stan Bowman has showed his hand to the media, and McDavid.
He issued a statement telling the local Edmonton media that the negotiation will happen on McDavid's timeline, and it confirms it that McDavid has an open door to leave.
A timeline that could turn out to be never.
«He's the #1 priority. I think also, listening to Connor's take, he's earned the right for us to be respectful of his timing
McDavid can begin negotiating his contract extension on July 1st. His 8-year, $100 million deal expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, and it's a timeline that Stan Bowman can't afford to miss.
Pierre LeBrun recently named the three teams that McDavid would go to, and the Chicago Blackhawks are one of them.
NHL Insiders believe that Bowman shouldn't be so patient, as McDavid could land anywhere he wants.
He's the face of the Oilers franchise and the NHL at the moment. While fans are hoping to see him re-sign with the team, there's uncertainty that remains until we get an honest answer from either party.
For now, McDavid will enjoy the rest of the offseason and recuperate and contemplate his future, or whether or not he'll join his recently signed teammate, Leon Draisaitl ($14 million AAV), for a future push to the Finals once more.
The Oilers have to sign Evan Bouchard with $11.96 million in cap space left (while having 19 players under contract). As McDavid's deal will once again come into question next season.
If they can't extend him, a trade would be better than getting nothing for him.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JUIN 24 | 956 ANSWERS Connor McDavid leaving the Edmonton Oilers: GM Stan Bowman issues a major statement that confirms it all Do you think forward Connor McDavid will re-sign with the Edmonton Oilers, or will GM Stan Bowm fail yet again? | ||
| Yes | 479 | 50.1 % |
| No | 226 | 23.6 % |
| Fail | 251 | 26.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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