Edmonton Oilers fans around the world have been waiting with bated breath for Connor McDavid to put pen to paper on a contract extension that will surely make him the highest-paid player in the league.

And while there’s been speculation about what that dollar amount could be on an annual basis, insider Frank Seravalli reported the two sides have yet to exchange numbers.

“People in Edmonton, Alberta, are nervous. Should they be? I don’t think so,” said Seravalli. “It’s been a very busy social summer for Connor McDavid, as everyone saw on social media, overseas in Europe at best friend Leon Draisaitl’s wedding.

“Should people be nervous? Well, my understanding is that numbers haven’t even been exchanged yet. They’re still very early on in the process. And yet, there doesn’t seem to be any hint of nerves or panic or fear from either the Edmonton Oilers’ side, as best as I can tell, and also the McDavid side.”

As Seravalli indicated, there’s no need for concern, and last summer when the Oilers were negotiating with Leon Drasiaitl, it wasn’t until early August that conversations began. Having to navigate a pair of offer sheets forced the Oilers to pivot priorities, and even though there was a late August report about the two sides being “a little further apart” than previously believed, his contract was signed less than a week later.

While the exchanging of numbers between McDavid and the team have yet to begin, Seravalli said he sees them kicking off soon

“I’d expect in relatively short order here, whether it’s in the next week or two, that that process will begin to ramp up, and that essentially the way it’s been explained to me is the minute that Connor McDavid picks his head up off the pillow and decides that he would like to have a contract extension done, that’s the day that it’ll happen,” he said.”

For McDavid and the Oilers, it’s simply a matter of when, not if.

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.