One of the big themes entering this 25-26 NHL season is the higher than usual presence of drama surrounding the best players in the game when it comes to impending contract discussions.
The Connor McDavid situation in Edmonton may not have quite the fireworks compared to what is going on in Minnesota with Kaprizov, but uncertainty remains an issue for the Oilers.
While McDavid may be content with going into the season without a new deal, Oilers fans will continue to wait on edge and this latest report will not calm their nerves.
What is the latest on McDavid?
Via insider Pierre LeBrun, the Oilers and McDavid have engaged in early contract talks. But those discussions clearly have not gone far as the reporter mentioned no “concrete” numbers thrown into the mix.
Perhaps, McDavid’s camp is waiting to see what happens with Kaprizov and what that contract will look like. As the unanimous best player in the game, Connor’s agent will likely want his client to deservedly be the highest paid player in hockey. With the potential of a rich Kaprizov deal on the horizon, it is possible the McDavid side is using that future contract as a reference for their numbers discussion with Edmonton in the future. Are the McDavid and Kaprizov parties engaged in a game of cat and mouse waiting to see who bites first in the battle of negotiations?
Nevertheless, this is still a worrying sign for Edmonton and not the update their fanbase will be looking for in nervous Alberta times. The fact the sides don’t at least have a base number in mind yet is not ideal at this stage as the new season nears.
