Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Major
You can quote precedent and look at trends all you want, but there is only 1 question. Does team McDavid want a max style contract? If he wants it, he gets it. The Oilers have nothing, yes nothing, in terms of a bargaining position. So what does Connor want? Does he love the city? How many dollars is willing to surrender in order to win? If he looks the team up and down and feels it's not built to win regardless, maybe he's less motivated to give money up in order to continue to lose. If McDavid and his agent have a high number in mind, and the Oilers open at around 10 or 10.5, there is nothing stopping them from saying, respectfully, we are going to play the season and reopen negotiations with you on July 2 after Connor has looked at his offer sheets. Maybe you think Flames fans are just imagining their own dream situation here, or maybe we're asking, Do Connor and his agent like money?
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Well...I hate to be the Debbie Downer here, but this sentence is not strictly correct.
At the moment you are right, the Oilers have no bargaining position, that team is McDavid, Talbot and a random hodge-podge of scrubs.
However, they could acquire a bargaining position by doing the same thing that they have proven to excel at: Losing and drafting wunderkinder.
They could have newer, shinier toys by the time that contract has to be signed that make McDavid....less indispensable.
But still suck.