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Connor McDavid reportedly making 1 demand to Oilers management
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Connor McDavid will be eligible to re-sign in Edmonton on July 1st, but according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, he wants a commitment that the front office will go all-in every year.
McDavid raised some eyebrows with his end of season media availability for not directly saying he wants to be an Oiler for life. Insiders expect that he's not going anywhere, but may sign a shorter term deal.
NHL insider reports Connor McDavid making one demand of Oilers management
On today's edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said he believes this was a way for McDavid to put pressure on the organization to aggressively contend every year.
I think what [McDavid] is saying is, I'm all in every year, and everybody knows that. I need to make sure that everybody is all in every year. And I think they are, I have no doubt they are.
But I think this is his way of saying, I expect the Oilers to be wired the exact same way I am. And you look at it, they gave Skinner another shot.
I don't know if they're going to bring in another goalie to go with Skinner, or they're going to move on. But one thing I do believe is that they have to end the uncertainty. Like teams that win the Stanley Cup, you don't have as much turnover or upheaval in net the way Edmonton's had the last two years.
And I could see McDavid and the organization saying, enough of that.
- Elliotte Friedman
But I think this is his way of saying, I expect the Oilers to be wired the exact same way I am. And you look at it, they gave Skinner another shot.
I don't know if they're going to bring in another goalie to go with Skinner, or they're going to move on. But one thing I do believe is that they have to end the uncertainty. Like teams that win the Stanley Cup, you don't have as much turnover or upheaval in net the way Edmonton's had the last two years.
And I could see McDavid and the organization saying, enough of that.
- Elliotte Friedman
Friedman went on to report that the Evan Bouchard will be an important factor in their future, and that also that McDavid could take a shorter term deal to put more pressure on the Oilers to compete. Friedman believes he won't take the maximum salary, but it could be as short as a 2 year contract.
The maximum he can sign for, I think, is like 19 million. I don't expect him to sign for 19 million.
I wonder if McDavid goes short term. I wonder if he signs for only a couple years, a few years. And it's like Matthews. I just wonder if McDavid says, this is not about me leaving Edmonton, because again, I don't think he's eager to flee there.
It's about me saying, I want everybody sharp every year. You know, for example, he's going to be 29 in January. What if he extends for two years?
- Elliotte Friedman
I wonder if McDavid goes short term. I wonder if he signs for only a couple years, a few years. And it's like Matthews. I just wonder if McDavid says, this is not about me leaving Edmonton, because again, I don't think he's eager to flee there.
It's about me saying, I want everybody sharp every year. You know, for example, he's going to be 29 in January. What if he extends for two years?
- Elliotte Friedman
There's absolutely no indication that McDavid is at all considering leaving the Oilers, but it's very evident that he's frustrated they haven't won a Stanley Cup.
He would be within his rights to begin pressuring the organization for some real change from management to ice the NHL's best roster. As Friedman noted, it begins with an upgrade in net.
Oilers fans will remember Ken Holland and many past GMs saying you can't go all-in every year. When you have Connor McDavid in his prime on the roster, you must. Even this season, the Oilers had leftover cap space after the trade deadline.
Connor McDavid knows that the Edmonton Oilers are right in the cusp of a Cup, and just lost to what may go down as one of the better teams in modern NHL history. Edmonton is still the best place for McDavid, but they need to do even more to keep him.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 20 | 1128 ANSWERS Connor McDavid reportedly making 1 demand to Oilers management Do you think the Oilers need to go all in every year? | ||
| Yes | 1059 | 93.9 % |
| No | 69 | 6.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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