Connor McDavid has been in Edmonton for 10 years. What’s he attempting to really feel out?
TSN: Chris Johnston when requested what Connor McDavid is attempting to really feel out. He’s been with the Edmonton Oilers for 10 years and is acquainted with the scenario.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Jeff O’Neill: “CJ, that’s that’s positive and dandy and all the things. You’ve gotten the proper to do if you’re the perfect participant within the universe, you are able to do no matter you need. However we have been discussing within the first section how I discovered it odd how he needs to try this, and it’s he’s additionally so acquainted with the scenario. Like this man’s been there for 10 years. It’s not a state of affairs the place he’s simply acquired traded to San Jose final 12 months, and he wished to really feel a number of issues out.
In order that begs the query, what precisely is the sensation out? Like, does he wish to see if there’s a goaltending change? Does he wish to see if one thing shored up in a sure space? Like, that’s, that’s what, if you do that, it’s going to depart it open to questions on, what are you feeling out right here? You realize what I imply.
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Johnston: “Yeah, they usually’re truthful questions, you understand, they usually’re questions that I’m certain will proceed to be requested of him, so long as that is unresolved and is type of in the established order stage it’s proper now. And, you understand, I don’t assume it’s only one factor, you understand.
Look, this workforce has been to 2 straight Stanley Cup Finals, however I do know the interior feeling in Edmonton is that they took a step again from 2024 to 2025. That, you understand, look, it was, it says quite a bit about how nice a workforce they’re, that they have been all the way down to the final two standing, however they they misplaced floor to the Panthers in that 12 months.
You realize, it may very well be that Conor needs to see, you understand, what the workforce has this season. How do issues begin? How does it really feel? I imply, you understand, I simply assume he’s actually can be involved, and this isn’t simply with Edmonton, it’s anyplace he may take into consideration taking part in at any time. It’s he’s not going to wish to field himself in someplace the place he doesn’t really feel that he has an awesome probability to win.
And so, you understand, I don’t know what it is going to be for him that kind of says, Okay, that is the perfect spot to remain right here with the Oilers, you understand. However you have a look at the opposite gamers on that workforce, and, you understand, he’s talked quite a bit, referencing this season, like, I feel he’s right to have a look at the workforce this 12 months and say they’ve acquired a superb shot. They might not have taken an enormous step ahead in any method that we are able to pinpoint this summer time, however they definitely, I don’t assume, took huge steps again. And so they’ve simply been to these two Cup finals.
So, you understand, I do assume that he simply needs to get actually snug with the concept that regardless of the subsequent contract is, that he’s going to have an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup in that taking part in season. As a result of, you understand, he performed all these years you talked about. He’s been the highest participant within the recreation. You realize, 8, 100 level seasons already. He’s been a number one playoff level getter three of the final 4 years, and it hasn’t been ok for his workforce to win the cup. And you understand, you’ve heard him too in a few of the interviews I noticed, the one he gave to Ryan Rashad final evening. You realize, he’s talked about that he feels strain, that he might be even higher.
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However, you understand, I feel at a sure level, for those who’re him, how far more do it’s a must to give? You realize, I might hate to place that problem in entrance of him, as a result of it looks like he can do just about something he places his thoughts to. However you understand, he’s acquired to really feel like he’s surrounded by the proper possibilities to win. He thinks that’s the case this season. He’s underneath contract with the Oilers, however I feel beginning 2026, 27 he’s acquired some some questions that he’s nonetheless working by that course of.
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