Friedman said the Monday edition of the 32 thoughts: the podcast that the captain of the oilers sought to clarify his situation.
“Reading the tea leaves here, I think McDavid wants to give the clarity of the oilers before the start of the season by signing or explaining why he would not sign. So I think we will have an idea, in one way or another, the next day or two,” said Friedman.
McDavid, the triple MVP and the five -time winner of the Art Ross trophy, should become a free agent next summer. He was able to sign a contract extension since July 1, but he has not yet done it.
Oilers are consecutive defeats in the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers.
Compatriot Superstar Kirill Kaprizov, which was also ready to reach the free agency next summer, recently signed a record extension of eight years of $ 136 million with Minnesota Wild.
However, McDavid should not increase the even higher standard, Friedman reported.
“I think that if he does it (sign), it will be in the short term. I am not even convinced that it will be as long as four years, if he signs. I think it could be lower than that. And as I said all the way, I think it would be lower than many people,” Friedman (million), if he signs.
McDavid, 28, was coherent when he was asked for his contractual situation that he focuses on victory above all.
But even with an increasing salary ceiling, the oilers must always carefully manage players’ salaries with Leon Draisaitl on books at $ 14 million a year, Evan Bouchard at $ 10.5 million and Darnell nurse at $ 9.25 million.
Friedman said McDavid was “well aware” of this dynamic.
“There is a limit of what he can do with all these other figures and I absolutely believe that it was a factor in the conversations he has,” said Friedman.
However, in the end, Friedman said that he thought that McDavid, who spent his entire career with the Oilers since his first writing in 2015, will eventually register an extension – even if it is not for a maximum term.
“I think there is a real loyalty to the players with whom he grew up, the Draisaits, the Nugent-Hopkins, the nurses or the players who came to have an excellent relationship with, the Ekholms and the Hymans, and that is why I think he will sign,” said Friedman.
