Oilers GM Turns Heads With Connor McDavid Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Edmonton Oilers barely have time to regroup from their bitter Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers before needing to face their next challenge — the future of star Connor McDavid.
The former No. 1 overall pick has one year left on his contract, but the team can sign an extension starting on July 1. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman announced on Friday that bringing McDavid back is a priority, but they will be letting him set the timeline for a new deal.
“Certainly we’re eager to meet with him whenever he wants, but also understanding that he just went through a very tough ending to the season,” Bowman said, via Sportsnet. “Timing-wise, Connor’s gonna drive that process, but there’s no question, he’s a pivotal player on our team, and not just what he does on the ice, but his leadership.”
Bowman added that the Oilers still see McDavid as the cornerstone of the team, sharing some praise for his leadership qualities.
“I’ve had a chance to work with him now this year, and I’ve been just so impressed with how things you guys probably don’t see, but what kind of a teammate he is and and he’s incredibly important to our group, and you know, whenever he’s ready, we’re going to dive into that.”
McDavid has led the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, though the team lost to the Panthers in both seasons.
Related: Connor McDavid Answers ‘Pretty Heavy Question’ on Stanley Cup Pressure
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.