NHL insider reaffirms McDavid is holding out on extension with Oilers to ensure winning culture in Edmonton

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Wild signed Kirill Kaprizov to a record-setting eight-year, $136 million contract, carrying an average annual value of $17 million. The massive figure immediately drew comparisons to what Connor McDavid may earn, as contract negotiations continue between the star forward and the Edmonton Oilers.

On Tuesday, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman joined Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer on 880 CHED to talk about the Kaprizov extension and how it relates to the situation with McDavid. For Friedman, it’s less a question of the value of the player, but their value to the team, something Kaprizov has in spades.

“It’s all about what leverage you have,” he said. “There are situations where maybe a player isn’t as good as someone else, but they have the hammer. In this case, Kaprizov had the hammer, the Wild needed to sign him … I think Kaprizov was willing to wield that hammer, but McDavid is using his hammer in a different way.”

Friedman went on to talk about how McDavid is more focused on seeing the team go in the right direction than cashing in on as big a payday as he can. In that vein, he shared an update on where things stand between McDavid and the Oilers one week from the start of the regular season.

“What I’m hearing on McDavid is they’re waiting,” he said. “I know there’s been rumours about deferred money, I don’t think that’s happening. I think the number will be lower than people think. I believe it could be lower than 16, it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t think it’s gonna be long-term. Again, I think everyone is waiting for McDavid to make his decision.”

Returning to the idea of the proverbial hammer that McDavid is wielding, Friedman shared what he believes this negotiation really all comes down to for Edmonton’s captain.

“To me, what this is all about is that McDavid wants to win so bad,” he said. “The two losses the last two years have bothered him so much, I think this is his way of making sure the Oilers know how much winning matters to him. In case you’re not 100% certain that he is completely consumed with winning, he’s making things a little bit uncomfortable just to make sure everybody’s aware of it.”

The impatience for McDavid to sign something is palpable amongst Edmonton fans, but right now, it appears the waiting is just part of the process in getting that deal done. And while some are still holding out hope he signs long-term, a short-term contract with a team-friendly figure for the best player in the world isn’t the worst thing at the end of the day.