The Edmonton Oilers have lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in back-to-back Finals and could also see their star player leave.
Connor McDavid is the best player in the NHL, but he is entering the final year of his deal. McDavid has yet to re-sign, and NHL insider and former NHLer Matt Murley of Spittin’ Chiclets believes McDavid will be signing elsewhere in free agency.
“I think he’s in a tough spot, because he knows he should make a lot of money, but he’s made enough that he doesn’t care about that,” Murley said. “But, he also has the NHLPA telling him he has to make this much, so the next good guy can make that much, he has his agent telling him he should make that much because he wants his four percent. He’s thinking, well, if I take this much, we don’t have money to get another D or another forward. So, he’s trying to figure all that out…
“I think he is on the move. I still am going to go down with that. I’m sorry, this is his last year there. I think he’s on the move,” Murley added.
McDavid is entering the final year of his eight-year, $100 million deal. If he does reach free agency, every NHL team would be after him, but Murley expects him to sign a short-term deal with another team to try to win a Stanley Cup.
NHL Analyst Believes McDavid Deserves to Hit Free Agency
Although Murley expects McDavid to leave, his co-host, Keith Yandle, thinks the star player should hit the open market.
Yandle believes McDavid should hit free agency, regardless, to hear from every team before making his choice. But, he also thinks if McDavid leaves Edmonton, Oilers fans can’t be angry at him, as he gave the city everything he could.
“I think he should wait the whole year, whether he wants to sign long-term there or not. He’s giving everything he has. They have been on the brink of winning the last two years, and he’s given them chances,” Yandle said. “Every year he’s in the league, it’s thriving, the Edmonton Oilers are in a good spot because of him. Anything he does, he has the right to do. Whether he wants to go somewhere else, whether he wants to stay, I don’t think he should be blamed.
“All he wants to do is win, if he thinks he can’t do it there, he should be able to go somewhere else. That is why he has free agency. He could do what NBA guys do, sign a one or two-year deal somewhere else and try to win and chase it,” Yandle added.
McDavid recorded 26 goals and 74 assists for 100 points in 67 games last season.
McDavid Makes Stunning Comment Regarding Free Agency
The future of McDavid will be a major storyline all season until he is signed or he hits free agency.
However, ahead of the season, McDavid dropped a bold comment about his future, claiming no term is an option.
“All options are on the table. That would mean length of term, short term, long term, no term. It’s all options on the table, as I alluded to, so that would include a short-term deal, yeah,” McDavid said.
McDavid was selected first overall in 2015.
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