Feels like Connor McDavid desires to make certain the Edmonton Oilers can proceed to compete
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman on the Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers contract extension situation.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Kyle Bukauskas: “Connor McDavid, amongst those who spoke from the lads’s side, and really early on within the proceedings, Elliotte, wasn’t asked concerning the Team Canada stuff and the Olympics, no, but his contract situation. For those who aren’t aware, entering the ultimate yr of his current contract with the Edmonton Oilers, what did you make of his answer?
Friedman: “Well, I feel I’ve been pretty honest about what I expected, and that’s, I assumed he would sign a short-term deal this yr before the season began, in order that reporters like Kyle wouldn’t be bothering him all over the yr.
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Well, McDavid indicated that’s not necessarily the case. He was very honest and really blunt about, you recognize how he said that he has no preference without delay by way of what he desires to do and when or if he desires to sign.
And the one thing I interpreted is this fashion. He desires to win a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers. That’s his first alternative, and there isn’t a number two at this cut-off date. He desires to win a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. I take him at face value with that, and I feel that is unquestionably his preference.
What I feel he’s saying to them is, he desires to make sure that they’re a consistent Stanley Cup contender for years to return. He desires to give you the chance to consider it. Yes, they’ve come so close the last two years. Yes, they’ve gone to the Stanley Cup final twice in a row. But he desires to make sure that that he sees the Oilers as a team that may proceed being at that level and above for years to return. and until he’s certain of that he’s not going to do it.
Now, you recognize, there’s a few things here. There’s a number of players, I consider, who would crack under that sort of pressure. I feel McDavid is so focused and so single-minded of purpose that he will not be one among those players. I feel he can be high quality.
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Nonetheless, I don’t think this can be a story that’s going to go away. I feel McDavid is perfectly inside his right to handle this as he sees fit. I’ve got no issue with that, however the story won’t go away. And until he signs or declares what he’s going to do. It’s something that’s going to be talked about.”
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