Connor McDavid breaking character in contract talks could be problem for Oilers

And the distraction is not only an internal one. Several big-name, pending free-agents around the league are likely waiting for McDavid to set the market: The annual salary on which Connor agrees will determine their own market-value in the NHL.

Yet, it's the possible internal distractions that worry the Edmonton Oilers mostly, in particular following McDavid's comments of 'short-term, long-term, or no-term', implying, of course, that the superstar may not sign with Edmonton at all before he becomes a UFA. It's a very bleak possibility for the club.

Connor McDavid, however, said recently that it's his teammates' responsibility to remain focused, and not be distracted. Though players must remain professional, of course, they cannot shut-out the noise altogether; they will have opinions, and not all of them favourable.

That's not the worst of it, though. Michael Traikos contends that a potential short-term affect of McDavid starting the season without a contract-extension is the team having a bad start, leading to undue blame falling on Connor's shoulders, from fans and media alike.

Or worse, if Connor McDavid should begin the year underperforming, would his unsigned contract be blamed? This is all speculation, naturally; but that it's in the media at all, before even one game has been played, is an indication of the potential for distraction.

Many analysts believe the current edition of the Oilers is worse than last year's, and the one before that, leading to the likelihood of the Oilers having a sub-par campaign. Again, if this were to be the case, would Connor McDavid be blamed?

And worst of all would be that the Oilers actually do perform to its potential, and find that the team just isn't good enough. Would this then factor into McDavid's decision to proceed with a 'no-term' scenario, and consider leaving the Oilers? Rest assured, Oilers' players are thinking this too; they're respond to sentiment like anybody else.

There are too many questions that need answering, all of which lead to more speculation, and more and more distractions, it seems.