Connor McDavid believes he has “one chance” amid negotiations with Oilers

Edmonton Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid addressed the media on Friday, making it clear that his “one chance” at getting it right weighs heavily on his decision to re-sign with the team.

Following Friday’s one-ice activity, McDavid spoke to the media. The conversation immediately turned to his ongoing contract saga with the Oilers. One reporter asked:

“Is part of it for, Connor, evaluating this year, where the team is at, but also trying to picture what the future looks like?”

The question aimed to address rumors regarding Connor McDavid’s doubts regarding where the Oilers' future stands.

He replied:

“I mean, when you're trying to plan the next, 3,4,6,7,9, years of your life, you don't just come up with you don't just dream it up in one day. You know, you take your time. Talk it over. Think about it some more, talk it over again.”

Of course, it’s a major decision. Perhaps McDavid’s maturity has sunk in, leading him to give such choices much more careful consideration. But his comments ultimately drove home what’s on his mind:

“I alluded to yesterday, you know, didn't put everything I have put everything I know into my career, just like everybody here, you know it, you only get one chance to do it and to do it right. That leads to, you know, taking your time with it. You know, nothing else really.”

McDavid is right in that we, as professionals in every field, have one chance to get things right. Regardless of individual professions or industries, we only really get one shot at climbing to the top.

That’s what McDavid is thinking about, and that’s what weighs so heavily on his mind. But you have to wonder if, the Oilers were his best chance to win, he would have signed already.

Connor McDavid limbo status already becoming a distraction

Unfortunately for the Oilers, Connor McDavid0s status in limbo has already become a distraction. Training camp hasn’t even started and the narrative has completely shifted away from the team and onto himself.

Instead of talk surrounding the Oilers’ chances of unseating the Florida Panthers, the discussion has revolved around McDavid’s contract situation.

In a roundabout way, that’s a good thing. It takes pressure off the rest of the club. Perhaps the limbo status is by design. The aim is to remove the scrutiny from the rest of the club and place it solely on McDavid’s shoulders.

If that’s the case, McDavid won’t re-sign until next summer. McDavid and the Oilers will try to steer media and fan attention to him until the Oilers win the Cup or are eliminated from the playoffs.

But then again, that seems a bit too Machiavellian. McDavid, at least to some degree, is harboring thoughts of leaving. But there hasn’t been anything that could justify his departure.

Perhaps McDavid wants to avoid putting his foot in his mouth like Mitch Marner did?

The only justifiable reason McDavid would have to leave Edmonton is if the Oilers imploded this season and missed the playoffs. Unless the wheels completely fall off, Stuart Skinner, Leon Draisaitl gets hurt, and the entire club around him falters, McDavid will become a villain in Edmonton much like John Tavares did in Long Island.

If I had to bet, I would say it’s a matter of time before McDavid signs. There’s plenty of uncertainty regarding the salary cap and the new CBA. It could just be McDavid waiting to see what other changes the league may implement.

But until McDavid signs, this problem won’t go away.