General manager of the Edmonton Oilers Stan Bowman opened on Saturday night about how Connor McDavid’s two-year, $12.5 million extension came about — and by his own admission, it was hardly a traditional negotiation.
“I just wanted to get to the finish,” Bowman said in an interview with Scott Oake and Louie DeBrusk. He described the moment when McDavid proposed the surprisingly modest deal as unexpected. “We didn’t expect that; everyone thought it would be much more. But it shows what Connor stands for.”
Bowman revealed that conversations with McDavid and his agent, Judd Moldaver, rarely focused on salary or term. “It wasn’t a negotiation at all,” he said. “The conversations were about how we can continue to be a good team, not just this year, but every year. He’s very excited about this group.”
McDavid, who could have secured one of the richest deals in NHL history, instead prioritized the Oilers’ ability to remain competitive. “He doesn’t play for money,” Bowman added. He added that every player makes a lot of money and no one thinks about his contract when he plays in the Stanley Cup. McDavid just wanted to know that he could shoot it multiple times.
The decision is being hailed around the league as one of the biggest hometown cuts in professional sports. When it was mentioned that McDavid had essentially signed the Oilers to a “bridge” contract – two years to prove they can deliver a Stanley Cup, Bowman was asked about McDavid’s comments about leaving the option on the table to play out his contract and leave at the end of the season.
“I think that’s fair,” Bowman said of the two-year (actually three) stint McDavid has given the Oilers. “When I came here, I expected to win. We’re not building in five years; the challenge is now. And I love that challenge.” Regarding McDavid’s willingness to leave, he responded:
“Thankfully, it never got to that point. But no, I had a good feeling the whole time. I mean, he was always very committed to our team at this point, and I think he said publicly that he really likes where we’re going and is optimistic for this year. I mean, obviously we’ve had two good seasons; it’s not like we’ve struggled the last few years, but overcoming that last hurdle has been a challenge, and hopefully this is our year.”
McDavid carefully considered his options. He decided that Edmonton offered the best chance to win and he was willing to take far less than he could have earned elsewhere to get three more cracks at the NHL’s ultimate prize.
Next: Pickard In, Skinner Out: What it means for the Oilers’ goaltending situation
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