Oilers president drops major update on Connor McDavid contract extension talks

Connor McDavid is eligible for an extension this summer. He has one year and the remainder of this season left on his current contract. With the deadline approaching in a few months, it would make sense for the two parties to have at least preliminary negotiations.

However, team CEO and president Jeff Jackson said they're not looking at that right now at all. Via The Athletic, he said:

“Connor has the rest of this year and then another year. We’re not getting into contract discussions at all at this point. I have a good relationship with Connor that goes way back (as his former agent). We have a good relationship with Judd Moldaver, who is his agent now."

When it's "time and appropriate," the president anticipates that the two parties will begin the conversation, but it's not now and won't be until the end of the season since McDavid is "laser-focused" on the task at hand.

The Oilers just went through a similar saga with Leon Draisaitl, and his extension didn't come until well after the July 1 cutoff. That may happen again with McDavid, especially if they don't start talking until after the season.

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Connor McDavid unlikely to be impacted by Leon Draisaitl extension

Leon Draisaitl just signed an NHL-record extension (eight-year contract worth $112 million) with the Edmonton Oilers. While it might impact the financial status of the team and maybe Connor McDavid's eventual extension, it isn't going to impact the decision-making.

The Oilers will try to extend Connor McDavid (Imagn)

McDavid still has to decide on his own outside of his longtime teammate what's best for him. President and CEO Jeff Jackson said via The Athletic:

“You said it, he’s his own man, and he will make his own decisions, and he’s not necessarily bound by what Leon did. But I think those two guys love playing with each other, and we’re confident we’ll get Connor done when the time comes.”

Whether or not that turns into an extension remains to be seen, but Jackson is confident in the outcome and adamant that it's the one the Oilers will pursue when the time is right.