Oilers' McDavid on Contract Extension: 'Everything is on the table'

Connor McDavid wants to bring a Stanley Cup back to the Edmonton Oilers, and with a new contract extension hanging in the balance, the Oilers' captain made it clear he's going to take his time before agreeing to a new deal.

McDavid caught up with NHL.com's Derek Van Diest and made it very clear that at this point, as far as length of the contract goes, everything is on the table.

All options are on the table and that would mean length of term, short term, long term, no term. All options are on the table as I’ve alluded to, so that would include a short-term deal....When you’re trying to plan the next three, four, seven, nine years of your life, you don’t just dream it up in one day, you take your time, talk it over, think about it some more, talk it over again. It’s not something that I take lightly, it’s not something that my family takes lightly. I’ve put everything I have into my career, just like everybody here. You only get one chance to do it and to do it right and that leads to taking your time with it and that’s where it’s at.

McDavid is entering the final season of his current deal, and many folks in Edmonton are surprised there wasn't an extension announced on July 1st. Turns out McDavid isn't sure how long he wants to re-sign with the Oilers.

This is becoming a common theme with superstar players, as Auston Matthews signed a five-year extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs instead of an eight year deal, and gave himself some more flexibility for the prime of his career. From all accounts, it sounds like McDavid is going to do the same.

Mostly just the experience of it all, the core guys are still here. Maybe a couple of changes here and there, but the core guys that have made a few runs at it are here and know what it takes and know what that disappointment feels like and how motivated we are. That gives me lots of confidence in this season. Beyond that, it remains to be seen.

The Florida Panthers continue to crush McDavid and the Oilers' dreams, we'll have to wait and see if they get another crack at the back-to-back champs next spring.

Photo credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images