While the heavy lifting has yet to kick off between the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid’s camp around his impending contract extension, general manager Stan Bowman said he’s “very encouraged” by early conversations.

Those early conversations, Bowman said on Tuesday’s edition of OilersNow, have gone on with McDavid’s agent, Judd Moldaver.

“I’ve had really good conversations with Judd since the season ended, and I’ve tried to give Connor his space, and I think that it’s important,” said Bowman. “You know, a lot of this is respecting the athlete and their timeline. So we haven’t had any of those types of detailed discussions yet, but we certainly will, and I think we’re very encouraged by all the conversations I’ve had to date. And when the time comes, the time comes.”

Bowman’s comments reiterated what he said at the end of the Oilers’ season, when he highlighted giving McDavid his space, and that the team was ready “whenever he’s ready.”

McDavid is entering the final year of an eight-year, $12.5-million AAV deal he signed in July 2017, taking effect in 2018-19. He’s solidified himself as the best hockey player in the world since that contract kicked in, dominating offensively scoring 274 goals, 552 assists and 826 points. His goal totals over that time rank fifth in the league, while pacing the league in both assists and points.

In fact, he isn’t just pacing the league in those numbers, he’s been outright dominant, with his 552 assists 93 more than the second-placed Nathan MacKinnon, and his 826 points 77 more than the second-placed Leon Draisaitl.

Though Bowman and the Oilers have been patient, he said he’s expecting the two sides to have more serious talks soon.

“I think that the one thing I’ve enjoyed in getting to know Connor is just his motivation and his leadership with our group,” said Bowman. “He’s such an amazing player, but we know that. But when you get a chance to see him and watch the way that he operates amongst the team that no one else gets to see.

“He’s a huge part of everything we do here, and so I don’t have a timeline update, but I do expect to have some conversations with them soon and. And hopefully get that wrapped up.”

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.