GM taking star center ‘at his word,’ believes he wants to win Stanley Cup in Edmonton

By Derek Van Diest
@DerekVanDiest | NHL.com Staff Writer

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers are not concerned about Connor McDavid leaving town.

In fact, general manager Stan Bowman believes it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached on a contract that will ensure the Oilers captain remains in Edmonton beyond this season.

“I just go by what Connor said, and that’s that he wants nothing more than to win in Edmonton,” Bowman said Wednesday, the Oilers’ first day of training camp. “I take him at his word. He’s going through his own process, and you have to understand that and respect it, and I do. When he’s ready, he’ll be ready.”

McDavid is entering the final season of an eight-year, $100 million contract ($12.5 million average annual value). The 28-year-old center can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2026, if he does not sign a new contract with Edmonton, which has been able to re-sign McDavid since July 1.