Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said Wednesday it's not a guarantee that star forward Connor McDavid enters the season as a pending unrestricted free agent, despite all signs seemingly pointing that way.
McDavid is entering the final year of his eight-year, $100 million deal signed in 2017 and hasn't committed to reaching an extension with the Oilers as of yet. The team opens its 2025-26 season Oct. 8, hosting the Calgary Flames.
"I don't have expectations either way on that," Bowman said of when asked if it's clear McDavid will reach next week without a new deal in place. "I think we're continuing to talk to [McDavid's agent Judd Moldaver] regularly, I talk to him almost every day and had good chats with Connor all along the way too. I don't like to make predictions, we'll see where it goes."
The 28-year-old superstar's future has been a source of speculation since he said in June he wanted to see a commitment to winning before opening talks just days after the Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.
While some fans have become worried the Oilers could lose McDavid for nothing on the open market next July, Bowman said his focus is on the present.
"There's certain things that are in your control and out of your control, so we're just focused on not getting way ahead of ourselves," Bowman said. "That type of question is way down the road. All we're focused on is right now and the next couple of days here, getting ready for the start of the season and continuing our dialogue with Connor and Judd, and we're gonna keep doing that."
McDavid is a generational talent with three Hart Trophies who has led the league in scoring in five of his10 seasons. While Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov reset the market with his record-setting eight-year, $136 million contract on Tuesday, McDavid is free to set any price on his next deal.
"You'd have to ask (McDavid's camp) on that," Bowman said. "I think in some ways Connor is just a unique player. There's no one in the world like him, so I don't have a comment on that whether it would be impacting it at all."
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston said Tuesday he does not believe Kaprizov's deal - and it's $17 million AAV - will have any impact on McDavid.
"Well, here's the truth. I understand why everyone wants to connect the two," Johnston said on Insider Trading. "The game's best player, a new high-water mark for what the best paid salary is, but I don't really think the two are actually that related.
"Ultimately, Connor McDavid is operating in his own universe. Much the way he has been on the ice for the last decade in the NHL. I don't think this deal does a whole lot when it comes to what McDavid's next contract is going to look like for a couple reasons.
"For one, he's not likely to sign an eight-year deal. It's pretty clear that if he and the Oilers come together on a contract extension in the near future, we're talking a two, three, or four-year contract. So that alone might keep the number down.
"But also, the Oilers do need some money to be flexible, to keep building that winner around him. I think, ultimately, there's a world where Connor McDavid is considered the best player in the league and he may not sign the most expensive contract.
"Another thing I'll note here, there's been some talk locally in Edmonton about Connor deferring salary before that mechanism gets taken away next Monday. I can tell you with certainty that's not the kind of contract that's going to get it done for him. If the Oilers sign him, it won't include that."
McDavid recorded 26 goals and 100 points in 67 games with the Oilers last season. He added seven goals and 33 points in 22 playoff games.
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