After coming so close to the Finals trophy– not once but twice – mostly what a team does is try to find that one missing piece. So when the Edmonton Oilers failed to crack the code to the Stanley Cup consecutively, to the same opponents in the Florida Panthers, it was a given that they too will go on a hunt this offseason. With the 2025 NHL drafts all wrapped up, Oilers GM Stan Bowman is intently looking at free agency. But the gaping question at their franchise right now doesn’t lie out there.

It is about Connor McDavid’s extension that began less than an hour into the offseason when Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk’s praise for the Oilers captain also raised eyebrows, especially the ending– “When you have a player that good and that talented, he’s going to win one, one day. Wherever it is. Or with whoever.” That would also be a question in McDavid’s mind who is entering the mid of his NHL career but has no title to show yet. Add to that the new collective bargaining agreement which will be in effect in the 2026-27 season, shifting the salary-cap ceiling to at least $104 million.

But he has a friend in Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton who got an eight-year extension worth $112 million in September. Team president and McDavid’s former agent, Jeff Jackson, also cleared the air out, telling NHL.com: “He’s everything to this organization.” Yet, with just one year on his contract, all McDavid explained was how he is yet to make up his mind. Naturally, whispers began to make rounds. Until now when Bowman has finally shone some light on the matter.

Unfortunately for the fans, the team’s GM didn’t really have a super encouraging answer. A reporter asked him about the contract negotiations for McDavid at Rogers Place after the NHL Draft, “I know there’s been some initial chatter but how optimistic are you that you’ll be able to extend McDavid?”

Bowman answered, “I can’t characterize it, because… I don’t mean that in a bad way… We really haven’t talked to him at all about his contract. It’s really just been talking about our team and you know how we can improve and hit what he sees in that kind of stuff. So, the conversations haven’t even started as far as a contract,” Bowman said during media availability.

Draisaitl resonated the same thing when Connor McDavid first revealed his indecision about a week ago, “There will come a time when we talk about it,” said McDavid’s offensive line mate.

What’s more? The Oilers GM won’t push Connor McDavid to make a decision, either. “I think Connor’s earned the right to choose when he wants to get into the details of it,” added the 52-year-old general manager. However, the 28-year-old isn’t the only hockey star the Oilers hope to retain, and their focus right now is on someone else.

The Oilers know they can take time with Connor McDavid

While there’s little doubt that Connor McDavid is among the superstars of Edmonton’s roster, Evan Bouchard has been a crucial part of the team’s defensive line. While the defenseman did have some questionable performances, especially when it came to stopping the likes of Brad Marchand and Sam Bennet in the final series, the NHL defenseman remained a valuable asset for the Oilers.

With 7 goals, 16 assists, and 23 points, Bouchard did a lot of heavy lifting for Edmonton during the playoffs. So, the Oilers are not keen on letting the defenseman go come July 1. Thankfully, Stan Bowman had good news for Oilers’ fans regarding Bouchard’s contract. Unlike Connor McDavid, the team has started the process with Bouchard.

“I had a meeting with [his agent Dave Gagner] earlier and we’ve begun negotiations,” he said. Yet, that was about the only detail the GM was ready to divulge on the negotiations. But Bowman also explained that the team is ready to be as flexible as they can. “We’re open to a bunch of different ideas. I don’t think you can go into a negotiation with just one position. It makes it much more difficult to get a deal done,” added the GM about negotiating with Bouchard.

That being said, the GM also assured a similar approach for McDavid. “We’re very eager to do that whenever they’re ready,” Stan Bowman told the media. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid has also named his biggest considerations. “Winning is the most important thing,” McDavid said just over a week ago, but added that doing the best for his “family” will also be a major factor. So now, it’s just a waiting game.