Connor McDavid leaves just a little doubt about whether he’ll remain with Oilers

Connor McDavid wouldn’t say it.

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And the silence sent chills up the spines of an entire city.

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At his exit interview following Edmonton’s Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers, the Oilers captain, heading into the final year of his contract and eligible to re-sign on July 1, didn’t come out and say that he will.

The sentence every fan in Edmonton wanted to hear — “I love it here, I have unfinished business and I want to be an Oiler for life” — didn’t come.

He didn’t have to say it, of course. The season just ended, he still has a year left on his deal and he’s under no obligation to tip his hand or verbally agree to anything.

It doesn’t mean he has a foot out the door.

What he did say, however, leaves just enough room for doubt. Just enough room to freak people out.

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“This core has been together for a long time and we’ve been building to this moment all along,” began McDavid, who just wrapped up his 10th season with the Oilers.

“The work that’s gone on behind the scenes, the endless disappointments and some good times along the way, obviously. We’re all in this together trying to get it over that finish line.

“With that being said, ultimately, I still need to do what’s best for me and my family. That’s who you have to take care of, first. But of course there is unfinished business here.

“I’ll take some time to regroup, talk to my agent and family and make some decisions whenever that time comes. There’s no rush.”

This is calculated stuff. McDavid knew the exit interview was coming, he knew what questions were going to be asked and he knew what he was going to say.

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The fact he didn’t say for sure that he wants to follow in Leon Draisaitl’s shoes and re-up for eight years could be a simple case of not wanting to talk about it. Or, it could mean that he’s taking a hard look at where this team is going to be a few years from now and deciding if that Stanley Cup window will still be open in 2030 and beyond.

Asked point blank what will be influencing his decision, McDavid boiled it down to one word.

“Winning would be at the top of the list, it’s the most important thing. If I feel there is a good window to win here, over and over again, then signing is no problem.”

Odds are McDavid, who signed an eight-year deal worth $12.5 million a year in 2018, will elect to stay, but don’t think it’s automatic. And don’t expect an extension to be announced on July 1.

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“It’s only been a couple of days,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll get into it over the course of the next couple of weeks but, again, I’m not in any rush to make any decision. I know people are going to look at July 1 and to see if there is anything done, but I’m just not in a rush that way.”

This is not a negotiation tactic. It’s not a guy who doesn’t want to say he’s staying before a deal is done because it might cost him money. There isn’t going to be a contract negotiation — if McDavid re-signs with Edmonton he will tell the Oilers how long the deal is and how much it’s going to be worth. Then he’ll hand them a pen and they’ll sign it.

Draisaitl was in the same boat last year just signed an eight-year extension for $14 million a season. He’s hoping McDavid follows suit, but says there hasn’t been any lobbying yet on his part.

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“I’m going to be honest, I haven’t really talked to Connor about it yet. There will come a time when we talk about it. There is nothing I can tell you now that you want to hear, or need to hear. That’s his situation and he will do what’s best for him and his family.

“Do I want him here forever? Yes, of course. I think everybody does.”

Maybe he can hedge his bet, sign for four years and see where the team is heading then. If they’re still contending for Cups with a strong future, he extends again. If the Oilers are going the wrong way, if age is becoming a factor and there isn’t much coming down the pike because they’ve traded away too many draft picks and prospects, he can make a clean break after three years at 32.

We wait and see. Right now, McDavid likes where the Oilers are positioned and feels they can make a third-straight run at it next year.

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Beyond that remains to be seen.

“I think the team is certainly positioned to be really good again next year,” said McDavid. “Beyond that, I don’t know or care. We’re worried about next year and that’s the only focus.”

E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com

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