Johnston wrote on The Athletic that despite McDavid’s decision to delay extension talks, as the captain stated on Thursday, the organization is in a more stable spot compared to when they faced uncertainty over Draisaitl’s future last offseason.

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers just fell short in the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers for the second straight season, and the superstar spoke vaguely about his future with the organization Thursday.

Draisaitl's future was at the forefront of the Oilers' off-season talk last year, when he was eligible to sign a contract extension. He didn't sign on July 1, but he got an eight-year deal with a league-high $14-million cap hit on Sept. 3, 2024.