The Edmonton Oilers have been in a tough spot all summer. Despite relentless efforts to lock down superstar center Connor McDavid with a contract extension, the franchise still hasn’t gotten its captain to put pen to paper.
McDavid himself has made it crystal clear that his focus is solely on this season. While fans fret over his noncommittal stance beyond next summer, one insider has revealed the perfect deadline for pulling off a crucial cap-space maneuver.
NHL Insider Drops Critical Connor McDavid Signing Deadline for Edmonton
All summer long, the Oilers had one massive mission: re-sign Connor McDavid before the puck drops on the new season. With opening night a week away, fans have still seen no indication that a contract signing is imminent.
Some fans are even wondering if this could be McDavid’s final season in Edmonton. However, while experts and fans alike continue speculating about the captain’s future, one insider has revealed a crucial deadline for the franchise to act.
On the latest episode of “Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer,” insider Frank Seravalli joined host Stauffer to discuss McDavid’s contract negotiations. He believes the Oilers have until the end of the first week of October to make something happen.
“Seven days: it’s a very important deadline, not just for the opening of the regular season. But it is also October 6. It is the last day that any player for the foreseeable future in the NHL can sign a deal that has a deferred money factor,” Seravalli told Stauffer.
Seravalli clarified he’s not suggesting McDavid is interested in deferring salary on his next contract. He continued, “However, if he is at all, then the time is nigh to do it because starting on October 7, that is no longer on the table for any players in the NHL.”
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Seravalli believes this option could allow the Oilers to reduce McDavid’s cap hit. “If Connor McDavid wants to sign a deal that gives the Oilers, because they’re the only team he could sign with, a chance to win by lessening his AAV and also puts max dollars in his pocket, this is the way to do it,” he said.
He continued, “And so the question is, if you really are concerned about having the most competitive team on the ice and having a chance to win a Stanley Cup year after year, getting Connor McDavid at a lesser AAV is one way to really juice the cap in your favor.”
However, Seravalli acknowledged that the pressure of opening night is very real. According to him, if the Oilers miss this window, finding another opportunity to lock down McDavid becomes significantly harder. He believes convincing McDavid’s camp to re-sign mid-season would require a compelling case.
