TSN: Chris Johnston on SportsCentre with Jay Onrait when asked if we can stop talk of Connor McDavid's extension with the Edmonton Oilers.
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Onrait: “Connor McDavid, you must be running all the Edmonton tourism slogans, because that was the best Edmonton script, I think I've ever heard. And I love what he said about home. You know, the easy life. He seems to like it there.
CJ, Chris Johnston, back with us, our Hockey Insider. So I think he said it. He had his say. He won't talk about it anymore. He is not interested in a contract extension. So we can put up with it all, CJ, right now, you think?
Johnston: “Well, I think at one level, we can put it to rest, in terms of nothing to do here. You can't even sign the deal until next summer, but I don't know that it can be put on hold until he gets his signature on the deal. Maybe it will be next summer, maybe closer to 2026, when he is a free agent.
And you know, another box that I think we should all focus on is that Connor McDavid wants to be ticked. He wants to win. He wants to play somewhere where he feels like he has a chance to win a Stanley Cup.
And obviously, with what happened in Edmonton last year, getting to Game 7 of the Cup Final. The loss was about as far as the team could go, falling short of the tournament. I mean, if that happens again, I don't mean they're going to end up losing, but if this remains a top-tier organization in the league, I think the chances of him staying in Edmonton are increasing.
Apparently, he and Leon Draisaitl are very good friends, and Draisaitl has committed to eight more seasons after this one, nine in all. So I think a lot of things are in favor or point to Conor McDavid staying in Edmonton.
But you know, when you can't sign that agreement today, they just, who knows what could happen between then and now, so I think we can get it done, and then I don't think it's burning. the story. I think the money for his next contract will take care of itself. Safe to say, I'll go on a limb, and when he signs his next contract he'll be the highest paid player in the league at that point in time.
But really the focus, I think, is on trying to take that one step beyond what the team didn't do last year. And if they get back together, I think it will be good if they look to next summer, where he will sign a new contract. “
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