Edmonton is No Good XII: "I Dunno.. it's Just Not Good."

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's kind of a rude thing to say about your own team's prospects. Even if it is true, each one of those kids is working hard and believes in themselves. To hear some like Connor McDavid say that publicly has to kind of sting.

I think the commas might have changed the context of that quote, I read it as he believes they have a long list of 'highly touted prospects' in the pipeline.

Which, while a more respectful comment, simply isn't true.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by Locke

I think the commas might have changed the context of that quote, I read it as he believes they have a long list of 'highly touted prospects' in the pipeline.

Which, while a more respectful comment, simply isn't true.

I don't think so. In context, he is pretty clear:

McDavid: Well we come back and we do it again. You know, there’s no there’s no quit. You know, guys can take their time and, you know, get healthy, and guys will go through their process, whatever that process looks like for each individual person, but ultimately, it’s on every person in that room and that organization to dust themselves off, come back and be better. I know that’s cliche, but it’s true. You know, everyone’s got to find a new level. It’s not like we have a ton of cap room and we got a long list of, you know, of highly touted prospects knocking on the door. You know, it’s got to come from within the players that are playing. And everybody’s got to find a new level myself, myself included, just sort of following that up.

I think the team is certainly positioned to be really good again next year, really, really good again next year, beyond that I don’t know or care. You know, we’re worried about next year, and that’s the only focus.

He is saying, " it’s on every person in that room and that organization to dust themselves off, come back and be better... You know, everyone’s got to find a new level."... we don't have cap room or highly touted prospects..."it’s got to come from within the players that are playing."

He is saying very clearly that they can't look to young guys in their system or some big free agent signings. Success will be because the players they already have come back and are better.

[nieuwy-89]

Originally Posted by kevman

What a win win situation for Flames fans.

Option 1 - he leaves and crushes the souls of that fan base
Option 2 - he signs for max, leaves even less money for a supporting cast, and enters his declining years on a team that is regressing in all areas around him.

After Ron "not if but when" MacLean proclaimed them to be the next dynasty 10 years ago, things have gone about as well as Flames fans could have hoped for.

No GM would want to be known as the one who traded away McDavid, but they could get a haul trading him to a team in a competitive market with lots of prospects and cap space. Not sure who fits that bill but but it could be like the Lindros trade if the Oilers did it right.

I don't think it will happen but you are right that neither of the two options above really set the team up well for the future.

[dustygoon]

They are still eating each other alive over on HF Oilers.

[Vinny01]

I can’t see the Oilers trading McDavid even if he decides to test free agency. They might be able to win next year. Trading him for a haul makes sense to try and continue to compete around Draisaitl and Bouchard but if you can get a cup it is worth it and maybe a cup win would keep McDavid there long term?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I can’t see the Oilers trading McDavid even if he decides to test free agency. They might be able to win next year. Trading him for a haul makes sense to try and continue to compete around Draisaitl and Bouchard but if you can get a cup it is worth it and maybe a cup win would keep McDavid there long term?

I still have shell shock after the Oilers won another Cup after they traded Gretzky. Hot damn I'm old.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I can’t see the Oilers trading McDavid even if he decides to test free agency. They might be able to win next year. Trading him for a haul makes sense to try and continue to compete around Draisaitl and Bouchard but if you can get a cup it is worth it and maybe a cup win would keep McDavid there long term?

They can't just trade McDavid though. He has a full NMC and would have to sign off on any trade.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I still have shell shock after the Oilers won another Cup after they traded Gretzky. Hot damn I'm old.

Do you have one of those walkers with the tennis balls on it?

[The Hendog]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

https://twitter.com/user/status/1935770338962686115

That would be quite the gamble by McDavid to only sign 5 years and hope his body holds up to sign another contract when he is 35ish. Last contract was supposed to be 5 years you fool.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

He is saying very clearly that they can't look to young guys in their system or some big free agent signings. Success will be because the players they already have come back and are better.

I listened again and it's a bit more ambiguous. I think it can go either way.

But I think it would be weird to have him basically call out the farm team, which is why I interpreted it as I did.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by The Hendog

That would be quite the gamble by McDavid to only sign 5 years and hope his body holds up to sign another contract when he is 35ish. Last contract was supposed to be 5 years you fool.

I agree, why would he do that?

He could literally demand to go to almost any team. Most teams would find a way to make room for him, even at max term and max dollars.

Edmonton has zero leverage. They will give him what he wants, but he could leave regardless.

[howard_the_duck]

I could see McDavid extending but pulling a Matthews. Max out his AAV for a short-term deal, walk if he doesn't win.

I have a hard time seeing him committing for 8 years, 9 more in Edmonton. Not enough there.

[Icon]

I'm actually kind of torn.

Of course E=NG so I want them to continue to fail.

Keeping McDavid likely doesn't help them to win, as noted by many they have no draft picks or prospects coming, are right up against the cap with no way to get younger or improve the roster. They have nothing else to really trade away to help where they need it unless they get drastic & trade Draisaitl instead of McDavid. So they'll continue to put all their hopes on McDrai and get almost there but not quite because 2 players can't win you a cup. They'll just get older, compound the problems, and end up back where they started before they drafted them with nothing to show for it.

Alternatively, if they traded McDavid this summer they could get an absolute haul. Likely bring in a great young goalie, multiple picks/prospects, young up & coming talent, basically an actual retool that would move them away from the cap ceiling and help them in multiple areas long term. Undoubtedly would end up a better built team as a result. But as a Flames fan, I'd still mock them for never making it work with McDavid. A decade squandered.

I can't decide which scenario is more fun to root for.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

5 years makes no sense.

These pundits are bad at putting themselves in the players shoes and really considering the best course of action to max out what they rake in over the remainder of their career.

Real chance he declines by 33 and leaves a lot of dough on the table.

Short term or long term. Won't be in the middle.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Icon

I'm actually kind of torn.

Of course E=NG so I want them to continue to fail.

Keeping McDavid likely doesn't help them to win, as noted by many they have no draft picks or prospects coming, are right up against the cap with no way to get younger or improve the roster. They have nothing else to really trade away to help where they need it unless they get drastic & trade Draisaitl instead of McDavid. So they'll continue to put all their hopes on McDrai and get almost there but not quite because 2 players can't win you a cup. They'll just get older, compound the problems, and end up back where they started before they drafted them with nothing to show for it.

Alternatively, if they traded McDavid this summer they could get an absolute haul. Likely bring in a great young goalie, multiple picks/prospects, young up & coming talent, basically an actual retool that would move them away from the cap ceiling and help them in multiple areas long term. Undoubtedly would end up a better built team as a result. But as a Flames fan, I'd still mock them for never making it work with McDavid. A decade squandered.

I can't decide which scenario is more fun to root for.

How about this scenario, McDiver keeps talking contract with them and in the end walk away and into FA?

[PaperBagger'14]

Oh man if that isn’t the title of the next E=NG thread it’s a wasted opportunity. A direct quote from McDavids interview today.

Edmonton is No Good XIII - Endless Disappointments

[Icon]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

How about this scenario, McDiver keeps talking contract with them and in the end walk away and into FA?

lol I guess I just assumed that was too unlikely to be considered... but maybe I'm giving them undue credit.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by The Hendog

That would be quite the gamble by McDavid to only sign 5 years and hope his body holds up to sign another contract when he is 35ish. Last contract was supposed to be 5 years you fool.

If he signs for 5 years now after doing 8 last time then he has the worst agent ever.

2 years or 8 years. Those should be the only options.

[Paulie Walnuts]

He won’t sign 4-5 years. Matthews deal kicked in age 28. McDavid will be 29.

It’s going to be 8 or 1-2 year extension. He’s best to wait until July 1 2027 to sign a short term deal.

[Five-hole]

When's the last time a superstar player hitting UFA status signed a short term deal? I gotta think it's vanishingly rare. These guys know their earning potential depends on them being healthy. Anything could happen in the next 2 years and McDavid would be leaving $90+ million on the table if he suffered a career-ending injury.

You don't F around with that kind of money.